Shazam's Fast Forward Playlist Reveals Music Artists Set to Rise in 2026

[MacRumors]

Shazam has published its annual Fast Forward list, and an accompanying Apple Music playlist. The list takes a look ahead at some of the most exciting music artists who are being discovered through the song identification tool. 2026's list features more than 60 music artists who are poised to have a breakthrough year.

Here is how Apple describes this year's playlist:

Every day, Shazam gets millions of requests from users around the world who are curious about the artist behind a song. These requests come from all over-TikTok videos, car commercials, overhearing something in the wild-which makes it a powerful tool for predicting tomorrow's heavy hitters. For 2026, we've assembled a playlist featuring over 60 artists-based on Shazam data and reviewed by our editors-that are poised to have a breakthrough year. From K-pop group CORTIS to Alabama country crooner Kashus Culpepper to Irish rock band Florence Road, it's a remarkably diverse group of artists hailing from all corners of the globe. Have a listen and add the ones you love to your library before the world catches on.

Some well-known music artists, including Benson Boone, Ice Spice, and Ayra Starr, were featured in Shazam's previous Fast Forward lists.

​

Apple acquired Shazam in 2018, and the tool is deeply integrated across its platforms.

Article Link: Shazam's Fast Forward Playlist Reveals Music Artists Set to Rise in 2026

 

[mansplains]

Obligatory “I’ve never heard of these artists” and “modern music is trash”

 

[artifex]

Have a listen and add the ones you love to your library before the world catches on.

yes, wouldn't want to run out.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Obligatory “I’ve never heard of these artists” and “modern music is trash”

I never thought it would happen to me. I have absolutely no idea who a single one of these are. They may or may not be trash but it's incredible how easy it is to lose touch what what the kids are into.

 

[justanotherdave]

Makes perfect sense.

Since most modern music is just formulaic trash it makes sense that an algorithm could predict what’s coming next.

 

[iZac]

I hope Apple aren't about to roll some kind of Shazam+ with unlimited searches into an Apple Music subscription?

...and yeah, I didn't know who any of these artists are either.

"Here's the pulse and here's my finger, far from the pulse..."

 

[dannyyankou]

Obligatory “I’ve never heard of these artists” and “modern music is trash”

I never thought it would happen to me. I have absolutely no idea who a single one of these are. They may or may not be trash but it's incredible how easy it is to lose touch what what the kids are into.

That's the point, these are artists that haven't had a breakout moment yet. So it makes sense you haven't heard of them.

 

[Gaprofitt]

Music today is horrendously bad. It’s really sad.

 

[sw1tcher]

Shazam's Fast Forward Playlist Reveals Music Artists Set to Rise in 2026

Anyone know if Shazam got anything right with their 2025 playlist?

Sadly, the 2025 list is gone so no way to look back and see.

Apple Using Shazam to Predict 50 Breakthrough Music Artists This Year

Apple today launched a new Shazam Fast Forward 2025 website that will spotlight 50 music artists who are poised to have a breakthrough year. The list of artists will be revealed on a genre-by-genre basis over the next five days, starting with dance/electronic artists today. Rising artists in the...

www.macrumors.com

 

[dannyyankou]

Anyone know if Shazam got anything right with their 2025 playlist?

Sadly, the 2025 list is gone so no way to look back and see.

Apple Using Shazam to Predict 50 Breakthrough Music Artists This Year

Apple today launched a new Shazam Fast Forward 2025 website that will spotlight 50 music artists who are poised to have a breakthrough year. The list of artists will be revealed on a genre-by-genre basis over the next five days, starting with dance/electronic artists today. Rising artists in the...

www.macrumors.com

The playlist is here-

It doesn’t seem like the original playlist though, it’s been updated throughout the year. And I still don’t recognize anything on here.

 

[Beeneeord]

Makes perfect sense.

Since most modern music is just formulaic trash it makes sense that an algorithm could predict what’s coming next.

That’s an awkward take, as this list is heavily informed by actually human listeners. You don’t need much of an algorithm here. It’s simple counting, and then reviewing, also done by humans.

 

[Solarflares]

Living proof that even in 2026 - you can still suck your way to the top.

 

[bluecoast]

I never thought it would happen to me. I have absolutely no idea who a single one of these are. They may or may not be trash but it's incredible how easy it is to lose touch what what the kids are into.

I’ve heard of one act on this list.

I was surprised that I actually knew one!

 

[svish]

Interesting to see the list. Will check out some of these artists and their songs.

 

[Lioness~]

Stopped listen to ’popular’ music long time ago. Don't miss anything of it AT ALL, so I deleted it from my devises.

I meditate instead.
Sometimes I have meditation-music - sound frequency (Hz) related - in the background, while meditating and otherwise.

 

[Solarflares]

Stopped listen to ’popular’ music long time ago. Don't miss anything of it AT ALL, so I deleted it from my devises.

I meditate instead.
Sometimes I have meditation-music - sound frequency (Hz) related - in the background, while meditating and otherwise.

I have a free App called “Rain Rain”.
I set it on the “Rain in a Tent” preset, and mellow it out with the tone-control.
Have been sleeping with it for 3 years now.

Rain Rain Sleep Sounds for iOS and Android

Sleep, study, relax, and meditate to the sounds of rain, water, fire, appliances, and more, with Rain Rain Sleep Sounds, free on iOS and Android.

www.rainrainapp.com

 

[Lioness~]

I have a free App called “Rain Rain”.
I set it on the “Rain in a Tent” preset, and mellow it out with the tone-control.
Have been sleeping with it for 3 years now.

Rain Rain Sleep Sounds for iOS and Android

Sleep, study, relax, and meditate to the sounds of rain, water, fire, appliances, and more, with Rain Rain Sleep Sounds, free on iOS and Android.

www.rainrainapp.com

They offer a test period but it’s Subscription after that it seems, at least here, so no thanks. But enjoy your free version by all means.

I have a subscription on YouTube, and I get a lot out of it in various forms, including lots of hz-related sounds/music.
So I have no need to subscribe to special apps for that.

 

[Solarflares]

They offer a test period but it’s Subscription after that it seems, at least here, so no thanks. But enjoy your free version by all means.

I have a subscription on YouTube, and I get a lot out of it in various forms, including lots of hz-related sounds/music.
So I have no need to subscribe to special apps for that.

I use a free version. It has limited samples. I believe it’s available like that to anyone. Simply download and use.
No need to subscribe or pay anything.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Music today is horrendously bad. It’s really sad.

Or are you simply not looking for the good music?

 

[Dr McKay]

Obligatory “I’ve never heard of these artists” and “modern music is trash”

No way Man! We're gonna keep rockin' forever...forever...forever...forever..fore...ever..

 

[Solarflares]

 

[CarAnalogy]

That's the point, these are artists that haven't had a breakout moment yet. So it makes sense you haven't heard of them.

Article also listed some “well-known artists” I didn’t know either.

 

[Siliconguy]

Or are you simply not looking for the good music?

I thought the point of streaming was the good music would find you. Admittedly it usually doesn't.

But it does work occasionally. Pandora started putting Ella Langley in my playlist and she is my musical find of 2025.

 

[neuropsychguy]

I thought the point of streaming was the good music would find you. Admittedly it usually doesn't.

But it does work occasionally. Pandora started putting Ella Langley in my playlist and she is my musical find of 2025.

I've had great success with Apple Music for discovery. I've given my input for years on songs and artists and get generally great recommendations now. There are occasional misses, but I'm adding new songs and albums to my library typically every week.

 

[Stevez67]

A new name for payola.