MarkMeets Introducing: Supporting New Music Since 2002

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24 Years of Championing New Music at MarkMeets

Before the headline tours, the major releases and the queues of fans, somebody has to give a new artist a chance. MarkMeets Introducing has been doing that since 2002.

What began with a passion for finding and promoting talent has grown into more than two decades of interviews, artist features, gig reviews, showcases and practical support. By 2026, that story stretches across 24 years of independent music coverage and connections made between artists, audiences and the wider entertainment industry.

This retrospective was originally published in 2021 under the title “MarkMeets Introducing — An Overview to the Past 17 Years”. It has been updated to reflect the longer story, while retaining the artists, memories and milestones that made the original worth sharing.

More Than an Interview and a Link

Our support has taken different forms for different artists. Sometimes it has meant an early interview, a review of a small gig or a feature introducing a musician to readers who had never heard their name. Elsewhere, it has meant arranging a performance opportunity, inviting an act to a London showcase or helping them meet people who could open another door.

We have promoted releases through our website, newsletter and social channels; organised Twitter takeovers; filmed interviews; supported live sessions; and helped artists reach journalists, publicists, talent scouts and fellow performers.

That work deserves recognition. An artist’s career is built through talent, persistence and the efforts of many people. MarkMeets is proud of the part it has played: giving performers coverage, encouragement and opportunities at moments when those things mattered.

A Long History of Backing Emerging Artists

Our music history includes coverage, interviews and promotional support involving artists who went on to become internationally recognised names, including Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, One Direction and Justin Bieber. The nature and timing of our involvement varied, but the aim remained consistent: introduce talent to an audience and give people a reason to listen.

Alongside those familiar names are hundreds of musicians whose stories are just as important to us. Not every worthwhile artist becomes a stadium act. A strong first interview, a well-attended showcase or a new group of committed listeners can be a meaningful step in its own right.

Our Featured Artist programme gives that approach a dedicated home. It brings together profiles, conversations, music and release information, helping readers get to know the person or band behind a track.

From Our Archive: The Support in Practice

Tom Mann: Featured Artist, October 2013

Our October 2013 feature with Tom Mann captured a young singer-songwriter discussing his sound, influences, recording sessions and ambitions. It gave him space to talk about songwriting and the career he wanted to build.

“Thanks Mark for having me as your featured artist and supporting me.”

Tom Mann, MarkMeets interview, October 2013

That is the value of keeping an archive. It preserves the conversation as it happened, rather than rewriting an artist’s beginnings after their name becomes more familiar.

Idolising Nova: Introducing a New Band

In November 2015, we introduced Idolising Nova as our Featured Artist. The interview explored their formation, songwriting, debut single and early live experiences.

Asked about their growing audience, the band highlighted the contribution of platforms including MarkMeets and BBC Introducing to encouraging people to discover new music.

“They really are great for upcoming bands and artists.”

Idolising Nova, MarkMeets interview, November 2015

James King: Features and Video Interviews

James King was a MarkMeets Featured Artist in January 2015. Later that year, our exclusive video interview with James King covered his forthcoming EP, performing and collaboration ambitions, alongside a separate quick-fire interview.

It is an example of support continuing beyond a single introduction: returning to an artist as new music and opportunities develop.

Dani Sylvia: From Featured Artist to Video Premiere

We profiled Dani Sylvia as a Featured Artist in November 2016, introducing readers to her songwriting and music.

In June 2017, MarkMeets followed that coverage with the exclusive first play of her “Perfection Generation” video. The progression from profile to release coverage reflects how we work with artists over time.

Artists Across the MarkMeets Music Story

Our historical record of featured artists, interviews, music coverage and promotional activity includes the following names. Their involvement took different forms; this is a record of our wider music work rather than a claim that every artist received the same support.

  • Becky Hill, Rizzle Kicks, Years & Years, Slaves, George Ezra, Pa Salieu, Izzy Bizu and Holly Humberstone.
  • Mila Falls, Jack Garratt, Florence + the Machine, Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Marina and the Diamonds, Ellie Goulding and The 1975.
  • Jake Bugg, Eve-Yasmine, The Shires, James Bay, Tizane, London Grammar, Conrad Sewell and Robyn Regan.
  • Parade, Franklin Lake, Sharlette, Harry Pane, Scarlet Baxter, Sam Smith, Sophie and the Bom Bom’s and James King.
  • Rae Morris, Riva, Kit Rice, Paige Ashley, Derek Ryan, Harvey — now known as HRVY — James Eldridge and Laura Steel.
  • Tom Andrews, Tom Mann, Overload, Beth Sherburn, Kingsland Road, Blaise and Jukeboxx.
  • Carly Rae Jepsen, Aiden Grimshaw, District 3, Adam Lambert and The Dolly Rockers.

Our archive also includes the Idolising Nova and Dani Sylvia features linked above, alongside many more artists introduced through interviews, reviews and release coverage.

HRVY and the Early Interviews

Some of the most satisfying moments are the early conversations readers can revisit years later. Our work with Harvey, subsequently known as HRVY, is one example recorded in the original retrospective.

In February 2014, he shared his MarkMeets interview with followers. The post below is retained as part of that history.

One Direction, Red Carpets and Industry Introductions

MarkMeets’ music work has always overlapped with its experience of celebrity events and London film premieres. That has created opportunities to introduce artists to people outside their immediate music circle, from journalists and presenters to publicists and event organisers.

Our original retrospective records Mark Boardman accompanying One Direction at an early red-carpet event, alongside work arranging interviews, press opportunities, book signings and showcase invitations.

Those introductions matter. Meeting a useful contact, getting comfortable in an interview or appearing at the right event can help a developing performer take the next step.

Supporting Established Artists and New Chapters

Our attention has never been limited to debut releases. We have also covered established performers returning with new material, changing direction or beginning solo careers.

The original retrospective highlighted Bucks Fizz, Oritsé Williams of JLS and Shane Filan of Westlife. An artist starting a new chapter deserves a proper conversation about the music they are making now.

Shane Filan’s 2013 post sharing his MarkMeets interview is another part of that record.

Festival Opportunities, Showcases and Work Behind the Scenes

Publishing the article has often been only part of the job. Our work has included arranging festival performance opportunities, inviting artists to showcases and live-mic sessions, filming interviews and helping secure further press coverage.

We have also helped with promotional introductions and red-carpet access, working alongside publicists, managers, agencies and record labels across different genres.

Some of that work is visible in a feature or video. Other support happens through conversations, recommendations and introductions that never become a headline. Both have been part of the MarkMeets approach.

Mark Boardman, BBC Recognition and SebCollective

Our founder Mark Boardman has been central to this work, attending showcases, interviewing performers, promoting releases and helping emerging talent build connections.

The original 2021 account records BBC recognition of Mark’s support for emerging musicians. It describes years of backing hundreds of performers, from buskers and undiscovered singers to working artists struggling to find their next opportunity.

SebCollective also deserves a special mention. Our original retrospective recognised its team among the collaborators involved in supporting talent. Music careers are rarely built by one person, and we value the people and organisations who have worked alongside us.

Beyond Music: Filmmakers, Presenters and Other Creative Talent

The same instinct to give talent a platform has extended to presenters, radio contributors, television personalities and filmmakers. MarkMeets has offered coverage, introductions and opportunities to people developing careers across entertainment.

Filmmaker Dean Midas shared the following post in May 2021, reflecting the wider creative community connected with our work.

Reaching Audiences in 2026

The original article referred to an audience of 81,000 newsletter subscribers. MarkMeets now has 121,000 newsletter subscribers, alongside approximately 750,000 monthly page views and readers across more than 125 countries.

That wider platform gives our music coverage room to reach people beyond an artist’s existing followers. A reader arriving for entertainment news, a film interview or event information can leave having discovered a musician they want to hear again.

Our music history is available through the Featured Artist archive, while the main Featured Artist page explains the programme and the work behind it.

The Next Artist Is Still Worth Finding

Looking back is rewarding, but supporting new music only works if you keep listening. There will always be another singer preparing a first release, another band playing to a small room and another songwriter who needs somebody to take their work seriously.

That is why MarkMeets Introducing matters to us. After 24 years, we are proud of the names in our archive and the opportunities we have helped create. We are just as interested in the artist our readers have not discovered yet.

Read the features, listen to the music, share an interview and support a live show when you can. Those small actions helped build this story, and they remain valuable to the next generation of talent.

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