Sam Smith

Pop singer Sam Smith has been named the winner of the BBC's Sound of 2014, which highlights the best new artists for the year ahead.

The list was compiled using tips from 170 UK-based critics, broadcasters and bloggers, and previous winners include Adele, Ellie Goulding and Jessie J.

"I'm completely speechless," said the 21-year-old from Cambridgeshire. "It's a huge compliment to be recognised by the industry and the BBC in this way.

"I really didn't expect it."

Smith got his big break in 2012, as the featured vocalist on Latch, by Mercury-nominated dance act Disclosure.

The single spent 15 weeks in the UK top 40, peaking at number 11 - but his next song climbed even higher.

La La La, a collaboration with British producer Naughty Boy, went to number one and became the fifth biggest-selling single of 2013.

The station's head of music, George Ergatoudis said: "Sam Smith is blessed with a distinctive mellifluous voice that imbues his lyrics with real emotion and soul.

"The public are looking for authentic artists with genuine talent and Sam more than fits the bill. He is going to enjoy huge success this year."

Smith has also been named the winner of the Critics' Choice award by the Brits, and will pick up his trophy at the ceremony on 19 February.

ranging from magazine editors and newspaper critics to influential bloggers, DJs and radio and TV producers.

Each was asked to name their favourite three new acts - rather than the ones they thought would be commercially successful.

They were free to choose performers from any country and any musical genre.

Artists who had scored a UK top 20 single or album before 11 November 2012 were ineligible, as were those already well-known to the UK public - for example by featuring in the final stages of a TV talent show or already being a member of a successful band.

However, this has been criticized by Neil McCormick...

The idea that Sam Smith deserves to be hailed as “The sound of 2014” is risible, unless all we want from pop music is more of the same, another fluid honey-toned voice sprinkling melodious Americanised soul licks over blends of digital beats concocted by laptop production teams.

Smith was announced as winner of the BBC’s Sound of 2014 poll, having already been selected for the Brits Critic Choice Award. So that’s it, apparently. The future has been decided by the great and good of the music industry and all the rest of the young wannabes can go home now. Unless it strikes anyone as odd that an artist being hailed as the next big thing has already scored a massive number one single.