WHAT IT IS: Michael Marcagi’s breakout single, “Scared to Start,” pushed his TikTok view counts into the millions and became his debut entry in the Hot 100. Since its release less than a year ago, the track has gone platinum, and Marcagi has emerged as a global touring sensation. In 2025 the Cincinnati-based singer-songwriter will release a new album and support The Lumineers in arenas across Europe. Using folk and bluegrass instrumentation, cavernous rock drums and luxuriant vocal harmonies, Marcagi makes music for listeners who prize specificity and sophistication in songwriting, evident in his latest single “Good Enough.”
ALBUM: American Romance (EP)
SINGLE: “Good Enough”
RELEASE DATE: 10/25
TV: Seth Meyers
LIVE: N.A. headline tour kicks off 2/11, E.U. tour supporting The Lumineers kicks off 4/23
INTERNET: 13m+ monthly Spotify listeners; “Scared to Start” has 1.5b+ views and 1m+ TikTok video creations; 500m+ views on Instagram; 15m+ views on YouTube
RADIO: “Scared to Start” hit Top 5 at AAA, Top 10 at Alternative, Top 10 at Hot AC
PRESS: SPIN, Holler, FLAUNT, more
BOOKING: Joe Atamian & Geoff Meal/Wasserman
PUBLISHING: Sony Music Publishing
MANAGEMENT: Alex Brahl & Andrew Marcagi/7s Management

WHAT IT IS: Ray Vaughn, TDE’s latest rising star, aims to establish himself as the hottest rap act on the West Coast in 2025. The Long Beach native has plans to release a new project before the year ends. Vaughn had a standout moment during Kendrick Lamar’s Juneteenth pop-up concert, where he received acclaim for his performance, generating excitement ahead of his upcoming project.
ALBUM: The Good, the Bad & the Dollar Menu (EP)
RELEASE DATE: TBA
SINGLE: “East Chat” f/Isaiah Rashad (11/15)
INTERNET: Ray Vaughn Post Pop-Out interview; L.A. Leakers Freestyle Reel
PRESS: Rolling Stone (“leaning into his identity as a serious wordsmith in an era where hip-hop can be anything”), The Source (“the track solidifies Ray Vaughn as an artist to not only watch but also listen to intently in the evolving landscape of hip-hop”), 50 Cent on Hot97 (“I approve”); Revolt (“West Coast rapper you should be paying attention to”)
MANAGEMENT: Top Dawg Entertainment

WHAT IT IS: Toronto-based Chxrry22 became the first woman signed to The Weeknd’s XO label. Recognized as a 2024 R&B Artist to Watch by Spotify, Pandora and more, the Ethiopian singer-songwriter is emerging as a force in the genre. Her track “Just Like Me” showcases her knack for crafting upbeat tracks with clever lyrics, while her latest single, “Poppin Out (Mistakes),” has amassed nearly 3m streams, bringing her global tally to 56m+. Following support slots for The Weeknd and Mariah the Scientist, she’ll release her debut album next year.
SINGLE: “Poppin Out (Mistakes)”
TV: 2024 NHL All-Star Skills Canadian National Anthem performance
LIVE: Supported The Weeknd on After Hours Til Dawn Australian leg (October); opened for Mariah the Scientist on the To Be Eaten Alive Tour (spring)
INTERNET: 13m+ TikTok views, 7m+ YouTube views; gained +7k new Instagram followers since August and 5m+ streams on Spotify, up 81%
RADIO: “Poppin Out (Mistakes)” at Mixshow
PRESS: Rolling Stone Australia (“Chxrry’s experienced a…meteoric rise”), HNHH, Complex, Genius, UPROXX, Rated R&B, more
BOOKING: Jackie Reynolds-Drumm/CAA
PUBLISHING: UMPG
MANAGEMENT: Brian Wright/SixDegrees