BBC HONORS CELESTE; INTERSCOPE DROPS SINGLE

Polydor/Interscope’s Celeste has been crowned winner of the BBC Sound of 2020, adding another coveted accolade to a growing surge of recognition alongside her BRITs Rising Star crown.

It's also another win for Universal U.K. imprint Polydor, which has been on a hot streak lately.

Celeste—a British/Jamaican soul singer—joins the likes of Adele, Sam Smith and Ellie Goulding in achieving the double-win of Sound Of as well as well as Rising Star (previously Critics' Choice). She was one of three Polydor artists in this year's BBC Sound Of Top 5 alongside Interscope’s British artist Yungblud, who came in at #3, and Irish rock group Inhaler, who were placed at #5.

Universal had four out of five acts in the shortlist as Island-signed band Easy Life was #2. London singer/songwriter Joy Crookes (Relentless) came in at #4.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, who has supported Celeste on her show, said, "Celeste is a phenomenal talent, a voice that does not come around often and when you are exposed to it, is impossible to ignore. I have received countless emotional texts from listeners who have had to sit in their car and lose themselves to her song ‘Strange’ before carrying on with their evening. Her songwriting is personal and poignant but with universal appeal."

Polydor has enjoyed a purple patch for breaking new acts under the reign of co-Presidents Tom March and Ben Mortimer: The label had seven entries in the U.K.'s Official Charts Top 20 biggest debut albums of 2019. Those came from Billie Eilish, Jax Jones, Sam Fender, Mabel, Summer Walker, Ella Mae and Becky Hill.

On the heels of the win, Interscope released her single "Stop This Flame" in the U.S.