ED SHEERAN
Ed's new album had been expected to pop up before we shut the door on 2016 but now is set for an early new year release. After a lengthy period of activity with his first two records and their accompanying tours, Sheeran spent most of the past 12 months crafting his latest material. One rumour has it that the singer-songwriter had holed up on a cruise ship, locked away in his cabin to begin the task of composing the songs that will shape his life over the next two years. The follow-up will need to be top notch after the roaring success of X which of course included the monumental Thinking Out Loud.
MAJOR LAZER
It looks like January will herald the arrival of ML's new effort entitled Music Is The Weapon. Diplo and co have secured collaborations with some very high profile current artists with Bieber, Nicki Minaj, The Weeknd and Usher all on board. The Nicki Minaj hook up, Ring Her Up, will in fact be the next single to precede the album.
HARRY STYLES
One Direction fans may get a bit of a surprise when Harry's solo record finally drops.
Styles has been working with Kodaline and Snow Patrol's Johhny McDaid and is apparently thrilled with the results. We've had Zayn's solo work, tracks from Niall and Louis too, and Liam's is on the way also, but you get the feeling that Harry's album will be the biggest-selling solo One Direction record by a mile. Get ready for Harry the rock star. The album probably won't see the light of day until early summer as his acting commitments mean a busy promotional schedule until then.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
Justin Timberlake has been dabbling in a few sounds over the past couple of years since his 20/20 Experience double album – country music being one of them. Performances at country music gala events occurred and then countless rumours of a full-blown country album began to surface. (Well, he is from Tennessee after all.) Then along came Can't Stop The Feeling and all bets were off. Justin has said, however, that the new album will punch you right between the eyes. You have been warned.
SIGALA
With so many hits and collaborations over the past year you'd think Sigala's well would have dried up by now! Not a bit of it: the UK producer (real name Bruce Felder) has been beavering away on his long form release and it will hopefully be ripe and ready by spring.
With tracks like Easy Love and Sweet Lovin', together with co-productions with John Newman (featuring Nile Rodgers) and Craig David it shouldn't be too difficult for Sigala to piece together one ridiculously huge pop dance album.
