Doncaster singer Yungblud shortlisted for prestigious BBC music award

Yungblud, whose real name is Dominic Harrison, is one of 10 rising acts named on BBC Music's Sound of 2020 list.

Now in its 18th year, the Sound of... list showcases the hottest new artists for the coming year. Past winners include Adele, Sam Smith, Years & Years, 50 Cent and Sigrid.

It is voted for by 170 music critics, broadcasters and DJs, as well as former nominees such as Billie Eilish and Lewis Capaldi.

The winner will be revealed in January.

The Doncaster-born singer is the most high-profile name on the 2020 longlist, with 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify - more than all the other artists combined.

The 22-year-old pop punk star has positioned himself as the voice of a generation, singing about topics like sexual assault, corporate greed, anxiety and "the underrated youth".

"I never want to be predictable," he told the BBC earlier this year. "If people know what I'm going to do next, then I'm completely shafted."

The annual Sound of list celebrates musicians who have not been the lead artist on a UK top 10 single or album by 21 October 2019. Artists who have appeared on TV talent shows within the last three years are also ineligible.

The top five will be revealed in the New Year on BBC Radio 1 and BBC News, with one artist announced each day from Sunday 5 January until the winner is unveiled on Thursday 9 January.

His dad Justin was an antique guitar dealer and ran Doncaster’s much-missed Music Ground guitar shop in Hall Gate for many years.

The shop attracted the likes of Noel Gallagher and The Smiths’ Johnny Marr as well as Canadian rocker Bryan Adams during its heyday. His grandad Rick also played with glam rock legends T-Rex in the 1970s.

His singles began attracting popularity in 2017 and his debut album came out in 2018 and was entitled 21st Century Liability.

He’s already played gigs all over the UK and also around the world too, also taking to the stages at this year’s Leeds and Reading Festivals.