YouTube Music has announced the latest class of musicians that will make up its first Foundry program of 2020. Foundry is a global artist development program that helps indie artists harness YouTube’s myriad tools and services to build their careers.
The latest class comprises 12 artists from across the globe, including Los Angeles singer-songwriter Adam Melchor (pictured above), Puerto Rican trap storyteller Eladio Carrion, multifaceted artist Gabriel Garzon-Montano, Birmingham grime artist and actor Jaykae, Glasgow R&B singer Joesef, Los Angeles-based corridos trailblazer Natanael Cano, Japanese indie rock band Novelbright, Sydney pop-rock brothers Lime Cordiale, Mumbai DJ and producer duo Lost Stories, the Korean-American multitalent REI AMI, Nigerian singer-producer Tems, and French pop-rap artist TESSÆ.
Established in 2016, the Foundry program has supported over 120 artists in 13 countries with marketing, promotion, and development services, as well as new content formats and best YouTube practices. Last fall, YouTube revamped the program to substantially increased the time scope in which it will work with artists — from roughly a day or two to roughly six months — to cover the full release window of a new project. Past graduates of the program include Grammy winners Dua Lipa and Rosalia.
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“This year, we’re all navigating a new industry, and the artists in this Foundry class are finding new ways to create content and stay connected,” YouTube artists partnerships lead Naomi Zeichner said in a statement. “These artist’s journeys are a snapshot of today’s music landscape, and worth watching for anyone interested in the future of music and culture.”
You can check out an introductory video created by the most recent class of artists — in quarantine — below:
