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The Beeb asked 60 "impartial opinion-formers", ranging from magazine editors to radio playlisters, to name their favourite new artists for the BBC News Online Sound of 2004 poll. The final results will be made public on Friday, but the coutdown started today, with the fifth-placed artist, soul singer Joss Stone, hailed as "the white Aretha Franklin".
50 Cent topped last year's list, which also included the likes of Dizzee Rascal, Sean Paul and The Thrills. Artists with a top 20 single already under their belts and contestants on TV talent shows were ruled out of the poll.
More information can be found here.
