HMV tips for 2006

At the end of every year HMV plays Nostradamus and predicts the bands and artists they believe will be big contenders in the following 12 months.

Here is the selection for 2006:

ARCTIC MONKEYS. Already the proud owners of a number one UK hit, Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys are certain to be in the forefront of UK bands with the release of their debut album in the early spring of 2006

THE AUTOMATIC. The hottest new guitar band out of Wales, these four teenagers from Cowbridge have a fresh take on mixing dance and punk sensibilities with a passing nod to Eighties' pop and indie

CORINNE BAILEY RAE. A stellar new voice in popular music, Corinne Bailey Rae from Leeds has the talent to cut through a wide range of musical styles, from classic singer-songwriter to contemporary urban

BE YOUR OWN PET. These Nashville teens cook up a high-octane brew that recalls the smart punk attitude of such bands as Blondie and Television. Lead singer Jemina Pearl is already one of the hottest debutants in modern rock

CHRIS BROWN. Sixteen-year-old American R&B sensation who's already mashed up the U.S. charts with his debut single, ‘Run It!', produced by Scott Storch (Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Ja Rule, Beyonce). Brown looks certain to follow in the footsteps of such artists as Usher in 2006

CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH. A five-piece band from Brooklyn whose debut DIY record caused plenty of ears to prick up. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, who toured the UK in November, trade in melodic, exuberant indie rock

DIRTY PRETTY THINGS. The Libertines' Carl Barât unleashes his latest band in 2006. DPT also features Anthony Rossomando - who filled in as guitarist following Pete Doherty's departure from The Libertines - and Libertine drummer Gary Powell as well as former Cooper Temple Clause bass player Didz Hammond

THE FEELING. The new gods of MOR! This five piece band from Sussex and London are on a mission to make easy listening hip, as witnessed on The Feeling's lush and epic debut album to be released at the start of 2006

FIELD MUSIC. From the same North East scene that spawned The Futureheads and Maximo Park, Field Music comprises a core of three members and an ever-shifting crew of local luminaries plus a whole raft of disparate influences which make up some of the most distinctive pop we're likely to hear in 2006

THE FIELDS. There's a major buzz for this five-piece band from London (by way of Reykjavik). The Fields feature two lead singers, one of whom is the daughter of the composer of the Icelandic national anthem. None of this has much bearing on the band's cool guitar-driven melodicism

VITTORIO GRIGOLO. Formidable young Italian tenor who combines Latin good looks with extraordinary vocal talents and an extremely catholic approach to repertoire. Grigolo is as comfortable with pop covers – he delivers a brilliant version of Keane's ‘Bedshapes' – as he is with opera standards

GUILLEMOTS. Championed by the likes of Rufus Wainwright, this four-piece band have made an immense splash with their first two indie-label releases. Guillemots feature a veritable United Nations of a line-up – the band's members are from Birmingham, Brazil, Canada and Scotland

LARRIKIN LOVE. Self-styled ‘urchin-punk-reggae-dub-London-calypso kids' have already caused a considerable commotion with their indie label releases. This four-piece band is now poised for a bigger breakthrough with their major label debut during the opening months of 2006.

THE LONG BLONDES. Along with the Arctic Monkeys, The Long Blondes are very much spearheading the re-birth of Sheffield as one of the UK's great musical centres. The five-piece group – three girls and two boys – are set to make a considerable noise in the coming year.

MUMM-RA. Slightly crazed five-piece band from the unlikely rock haven of Bexhill on Sea. As all fans of 1980s' cult television will recognise, the band is named after the baddie in Thundercats.

MYSTERY JETS. The Mystery Jets are the only band based on Eel Pie Island in the River Thames and one of the very few to feature a father and son in the line-up. British pop at its most invigoratingly weird – think Syd Barrett meets Dexy's with a touch of Can.

NE-YO. Richly talented American R&B singer-songwriter – he co-wrote Mario's smash hit ‘Let Me Love You' – releases his debut album on the Def Jam label early next year. Ne-Yo's work combines silky vocals with powerful pop melodies and soulful production.

THE PIPETTES. Three girls in polka-dot dresses with an all-boy backing band called The Cassettes and a brilliant line in catchy doo-wop songs about boys in school uniforms! Brighton's Pipettes revive the idea of Fifties' harmony pop.

PLAN B. 21-year-old Londoner Ben mixes R&B vocals with rap and hip-hop and no-frills lyrics about life in contemporary Britain. Signed to 679, label home of The Streets

PROTOCOL. London-based five-piece band with their own distinctive vision of blistering 21st century pop. They certainly aren't shy about their mission to make pure pop credible and exciting.

SPINTO BAND. America's six-member Spinto Band made considerable waves
in the UK earlier this year, a reputation certain to be consolidated
in the next 12 months. The band's indie-pop sensibility is reinforced by a formidable ability to rock out

SWAY. This 23-year-old rapper beat such heavyweights as 50 Cent, Roots Manuva and The Game to win the Best Hip Hop Act at this year's MOBO Awards – a massive accolade made even more impressive by the fact that he isn't yet signed to a record company. Expect big things in 2006.