Island-signed R&B trio Flo have won the top spot on the coveted list which highlights artists that the Beeb think are gonna pop in the coming year. Previous winners include Adele, Sam Smith and Pink Pantheress. Flo – Stella Quaresma, Jorja Douglas and Renée Downer – only released their debut single Cardboard Box in 2022 and it continued to grow organically over the year into a charting release. Layered with honeyed group harmonies and sassy one-liners, they immediately drew comparisons with US girl bands like Destiny's Child, TLC and SWV; and they have picked up endorsements from Missy Elliot and Brandy. In July, the trio released their debut EP, The Lead, which has been streamed more than 70 million times, leading to appearances on Jimmy Kimmel's US chat show and the BBC's Later... With Jools Holland. The group were told the news of their win by Stormzy, who called the newcomers "a breath of fresh air" who had "killed it in every single department." High praise indeed. Via Official Charts