Potential International Breakthroughs of 2011

In this age of instant music sharing, iTunes, and YouTube, artists from distant lands are able to generate interest and attraction from outside the core geographic audience for which their labels have prepared them. Here are a list of artists that have the sound and potential for international breakthroughs in 2011.

Jessica Mauboy

She's the winner of the fourth season of Australian Idol that dabbled briefly in a girl group (Young Divas) before pursuing a solo career. Her 2008 debut album, Been Waiting, had several radio hits including the urban-tinged and Flo-Rida assisted "Running Back" as well as the Australian number 1 hit, "Burn." Her debut was filled to the brim with hits that had the production pizzazz, attractive collaborations, and soulful voice that would have been successful here in America. Now she's back with another urban/dance hybrid album that features collaborations with Snoop Dogg and Ludacris. Listen to "Get 'Em Girls" or "Saturday Night" and tell me these songs were not made to be spun repeatedly on American radio.

Get Em Girls - Jessica Mauboy featuring Snoop Dogg

Saturday Night - Jessica Mauboy featuring Ludacris

N-Dubz

This British Hip Hop trio has some fleet stylistic comparisons with The Black Eyed Peas, as Tulisa's vocals combined with the alternating rapping styles of Dappy and Fazer create a sound that is quite different from what's out there on radio today. From their debut album Uncle B that brought them critical acclaim and commercial success to two additional albums since released exclusively in their native UK, they have the originality and musical finesse to take them abroad. And that's exactly the case, as the group has recently been signed to American music label Def Jam and their 2010 UK-only release, Love.Live.Life, will see a 2011 release here in the states.

Best Behavior - N-Dubz

Living for the Moment - N-Dubz

Cher Lloyd

Cher Lloyd sent the internet a flutter this past fall when the pint-sized 17 year-old brought the heat, vocals, and stage presence with her cover of Keri Hilson's "Turn My Swag On" remix at her audition for the UK X-Factor. Since her breakthrough first audition, Cher has sailed through the competition but was only able to muster third runner-up on the singing competition. One might fear an early exit in the show would be a career-killer, but her exit has been greeted with reports of a label war between Will.I.Am's label and Jay-Z's label with hopes of bringing the Malvern-bred Cher to the U.S. for an international career in music. With a particularly urban appeal to her music, losing the competition may have been a career-saver as this year will surely be a whirlwind for the high school student.

Turn My Swag On (Keri Hilson Remix) - Cher Lloyd