Previous winners include Adele, Sam Smith, Florence And The Machine, Ellie Goulding and James Bay.

Image: The Brits Critics' Choice 2019 shortlist – Sam Fender, Mahalia and Lewis Capaldi

By Gemma Peplow, arts and entertainment reporter

Up-and-coming music stars Mahalia, Lewis Capaldi and Sam Fender have been announced as the shortlisted artists for the Brits Critics' Choice award for next year.

The award is seen as a predictor of the future stars of British music, with acts including Adele, Florence And The Machine, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith and James Bay all picking up the prize early in their careers.

Collectively, the 11 past winners have sold more than 90 million albums worldwide.

Click on the images below to find out more about the three artists who could be following in their footsteps.

Mahalia

Lewis Capaldi

Sam Fender

The Critics' Choice award is chosen by a panel of music editors, national press critics and online music editors, as well as heads of music from radio and music TV stations.

More from Ents & Arts

It is open to British artists who have not yet achieved Top 40 album success (as of 31 October this year), and the 2019 winner will be announced on Friday 7 December.

The Brits awards ceremony takes place on 20 February.

Original Article

[contf] [contfnew]

Sky News

[contfnewc] [contfnewc]