WHAT IT IS: Injecting new vitality into the country tradition, 24-year-old Mercury Nashville talent Bryce Leatherwood is a next-gen traditionalist plugged into the modern mainstream. Gifted with vocal charisma and the warm, rumbling twang of his Georgia roots, Leatherwood was the winner of NBC’s The Voice in 2022, which he followed with his Grand Ole Opry debut, headlining the Neon Does Tour and debut Country-radio single “Hung Up on You.” His upcoming debut album shows a deep reverence for the past and an open mind about what comes next.
ALBUM: TBA
RELEASE DATE: May 2025
SINGLE: “Hung Up on You”
LIVE: Scattered shows coming in for the new year, 2025 festivals TBA
RADIO: 45 first-week adds on “Hung up On You,” #1 Most Added at Country on impact (9/23), 57 adds to date (10/22); 20+ station visits/radio events booked for the next few months
PRESS: Country Now, Entertainment Focus, Today’s Country, Country Insider, more
BOOKING: CAA
PUBLISHING: SMP Nashville
MANAGEMENT: Clint Higham & Robert Filhart/Morris Higham Management

WHAT IT IS: 21-year-old British singer-songwriter Nia Smith is carving out her own space with her cinematic, soulful sound. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Amy Winehouse, Lauryn Hill and H.E.R., Smith has garnered support from Bruno Mars and Timbaland. “Personal” from her debut EP, Give Up the Fear, produced by Grammy-winners Jimmy Napes and Dom Valentino and written with Ed Thomas, gained momentum this summer with a feature from Jamaican dancehall artist Popcaan.
ALBUM: Give Up the Fear (EP)
RELEASE DATE: 11/8
SINGLE: “Personal”
TV: Jools Holland
LIVE: Supporting British R&B/neo-soul artist Elmiene on his North American tour (11 dates); supported Jordan Rakei (two nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall); All Points East, British Summertime supporting SZA (London, U.K.)
INTERNET: 1.2m+ monthly Spotify listeners; millions of TikTok views on covers like Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” (4m+), Summer Walker & Bakar’s “Hell N Back” (5m+)
RADIO: Capital Xtra, BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, Apple Music 1 Radio with Rebecca Judd
PRESS: British Vogue, Rolling Stone U.K., NME, Complex, MTV Push “Get to Know” Artist
BOOKING: Lucy Dickens/WME
PUBLISHING: Amber Davis/Warner Chappell U.K.
MANAGEMENT: Paul McDonald & Ryan Lofthouse/Closer Artists

WHAT IT IS: Hailing from a small seaside town in England, Alice Chater is making her mark as a bold new voice in pop music. With a background in ballet, she seamlessly blends elegance and attitude, captivating audiences with her unapologetic style. Signed to Epic and RZ3 Recordings, co-founded by industry heavyweight Tricky Stewart, Chater is poised for a breakthrough in 2024. Following the July release of her debut single, “Don’t Let My Boyfriend Get in Your Way,” she’s dropped the empowering anthem “Come Alive,” showcasing her fierce identity and creative vision.
SINGLE: “Don’t Let My Boyfriend Get in Your Way” (7/19) and “Come Alive” (10/4)
LIVE: Performing at Mighty Hoopla 2025 (U.K.)
INTERNET: 150m+ career streams; 25m+ video views; +30.5% follower growth on TikTok; +114.25% increase in likes on her videos YTD
RADIO: Capital Radio FM Official Playlist (U.K.)
PRESS: Flaunt Magazine, Daily Mail, Just Jared, more
MANAGEMENT: Jeffrey Yoo/The Yoo Group & Judi Stewart/RZ3 Recordings