It’s hard to believe that it’s already that time of year once again when we find ourselves closing out another year and making plans for a new one. In this issue we are focusing on the very best artists and bands for the year and included in the mix are some amazingly talented discoveries from the major and independent arena. This particular issue also sets the template for our annual New Music Awards. For our radio stations, music and program directors this will be a guide for you to review and ponder your picks. For our subscribers and general readers you will once again get a glimpse into our on-going and everlasting “new music revolution”.

There was such a splash of talent and activity in 2014 that only time will tell what artists and acts will continue to shine in the years to come. This year brought us the rising star Meghan Trainor who moved to the top of the charts at both pop and mainstream with her powerful “All About The Bass”. Sam Smith also came out of nowhere and is fast becoming one of music’s favorite male artists. The band Magic burst on the scene with the Summer smash “Rude” that had all of us dancing in the street. New star Iggy Azelea also proved she is the “real deal” by grinding out hit after hit, Country saw the return of Garth Brooks and it was also a solid comeback year for Kenny Chesney. Blake Shelton and his pal Luke Bryan had another banner year pulling in more #1 singles.

2014 as also the year of Taylor Swift. Her new album 1989 broke all kinds of records as she went on to sell a million plus in just one week. She powered her way to the top of the pop charts a number of times and did a publicity stint on national television the likes of which we’ve never quite seen before. She appeared everywhere and even on your local news stations. Taylor’s only miss-fire came at her own hands by choosing to ignore Country radio on her new album despite the request by her label to at least throw the format a bone with one or two new Country songs. She chose to lead by her youth and inexperience, a move that could prove hurtful in the long run.

There were plenty of great newcomers from the independent arena ranging from east coast rockers Bill Curreri and the act known as Flaunt to starter singles from Kimik X and Alexandra Kay. Newcomer Ariana Hodes burst on the scene at Country and now appears to be on her way to crossover success. Many up and coming acts once again continued to use social media as a springboard to getting attention of fans and radio alike. The new “tools if the trade” expanded with numerous new Internet sights providing places for the independent artists and bands to gain special attention.

Over the next month New Music Weekly will begin some private polling with a good many of our music and program directors to get their take on the artists and bands that proved valuable to them in 2014. Here at the publication we will once again be mulling over past issues to examine the acts that had the most promising chart activity through the year, In this special issue there are a number of artists that chose to participate with space to remind you about their chart success. Please pay some extra attention to them as well. You can also see that our charts are winding down with some good holiday music as well.

We’d like to take this time to thank all of those that supported us through this musical year. As with most business it’s been tough but productive nonetheless. We hope that we’ve provided you with valuable information to help with your musical choices and we will continue to offer our “tools of the trade” for artists, bands, record labels and industry. We hope that you have a very happy holiday and we look forward to an even better 2015.