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The 29 Most Important New Albums To Get Excited About In 2016
From massively delayed masterpieces to pop comebacks and debut breakthrough records, this year is set to be HUGE for new albums. Here is our pick of the 29 new album releases which will define the pop music scene in 2016.
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1. Zayn Malik - 'Mind Of Mine' (25th March 2016)
Back in March 2015, millions of Directioners had their hearts broken as Zayn announce his departure from One Direction. Fast forward a few months and he's signed up to RCA Records and hit the studio with the likes of Naughty Boy. The world went crazy when his debut single 'PILLOWTALK' debuted in early 2016, and his first record, 'Mind Of Mine' has a release date of 25th March 2016. (Picture: Twitter)
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2. Lukas Graham - 'Lukas Graham' (1st April 2016)
After *almost* smashing the record for longest reigning Big Top 40 number 1, we're expecting HUGE things from Danish band Lukas Graham's self-titled album when it drops at the beginning of April.
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3. Fifth Harmony - '7/27' (20th May 2016)
Oh Camila Cabello, you little tease! The 'Worth It' quintet managed to pick up the People's Choice Award for Best Group in January, and CC teased that the girls' new album was on its way; "omg 5H WON BEST GROUP OF THE YEAR!!!! thank u so much u guys for voting, also we have a present for u. 5H2 coming very sooooon" - and now we have a date AND a name! Well, two dates actually... The girls' second record is named after the date the group was formed on The X Factor USA... (Picture: PA)
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4. Ariana Grande - 'Dangerous Woman' (20th May 2016)
The TV star turned pop diva has already wowed us with the first track from her upcoming third studio album, and if 'Focus' is anything to go by it's going to be a pop banger! Charlie Puth has already confirmed he's written a song for the record, which is yet to have a release date confirmed. Formerly called 'Moonlight', 'Dangerous Woman' is dropping on 20th May. (Picture: PA)
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5. Meghan Trainor - 'Thank You' (13th May 2016)
It only seems like 2 minutes ago that Meghan blew us away with her debut single 'All About That Bass', but now she's back again with her much more grown up second record. Expect big things from 'Thank You' on 13th May 2016.
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6. Martin Garrix - '+x'
Another album we swear has been coming FOREVER! The Dutch DJ's debut offering is set to drop some time this year, but with a hectic tour schedule and documenting his life on Snapchat, we're not sure when Martin will find time to actually get in the studio again. (Picture: Instagram)
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7. Bruno Mars (TBA)
The worldwide success of 'Uptown Funk' in 2014/15 pretty much proved that EVERYONE is ready for a bit more Bruno Mars in their lives! While the eagerly anticipated follow up to 2012's 'Unorthodox Jukebox' hasn't been confirmed, we're pretty sure that Mr Mars is gonna surprise us with a huge new sound in 2016. (Picture: Getty)
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8. Zara Larsson (TBA)
After winning a TV talent show aged 10, Zara's ready to drop her SECOND album some time this summer. After epic collaborations with Tinie Tempah and MNEK, and claiming her first Big Top 40 hit with 'Lush Life', this is one album we're VERY excited for! #SummerVibes (Picture: Instagram)
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9. Lady Gaga (TBA)
Not only did Mother Monster win her first EVER Golden Globe award this January, she also dropped some pretty big news about #LG5! “You know, I am putting out an album this year. I won’t tell you when!” - so there you have it, Lady Gaga is coming BACK for 2016 and we're keeping our fingers crossed for some more pop anthems like 'Just Dance' and 'Bad Romance'. Just promise us you won't do a Rihanna and keep us waiting YEARS, yeah? (Picture: Getty)
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10. Katy Perry (TBA)
'Prism' pretty much blew our minds when it was released in 2013, and after a phenomenal world tour, we're pretty sure that Katy Perry's got a lot of time on her hands... enough time to work on her fourth studio album, perhaps? (Picture: Getty)
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11. Ed Sheeran (TBA)
Ed is pretty much the biggest UK male solo star in the world right now, and even though he's taking a break from the limelight and social media, we can still expect to hear his third studio album this year - and if that's not enough, he's even confirmed to Rolling Stone that he's already working on his FOURTH album! (Picture: Wenn)
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12. Cheryl (TBA)
Just days before she confirmed that she was divorcing French husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, Chezza posted this moody selfie on Instagram confirming she was working on new music. "Think it's time for the.. Studio!!! It is on 2016.. " (Picture: Instagram)
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13. Rita Ora (TBA)
When you think of artists who tease albums for YEARS without them actually appearing, you'll probably think of Rihanna first, but Rita's been holding out on us just as long. After her split with Calvin Harris back in 2014, her follow up to 2012's 'Ora' was rumoured to have been scrapped after he produced many of the tracks. Two years later, we've enjoyed 'Poison', 'I Will Never Let You Down' and her steamy Chris Brown collaboration 'Body On Me', so SURELY it's coming in 2016? (Picture: Getty)
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14. Nathan Sykes - TBA
After storming the charts with his debut single 'Kiss Me Quick' and breaking our hearts with 'Over And Over Again' in 2015, we're expecting big things from the UK pop sensation in 2016. His debut record still hasn't been announced, but we're expecting to see more of Mr Sykes later on in the year.
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15. Drake - 'Views From The 6'
At some point the 'Hotline Bling' memes will fizzle out and Drake will be ready to drop his next huge record, 'Views From The 6'. Drizzy dropped two mixtapes in 2015, 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late' and 'What A Time To Be Alive', but he's promised that a more "substantial" album will drop in 2016. (Picture: Rex Features)
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16. Nick Jonas (TBA)
Nick's first two albums were called 'Nicholas Jonas' and 'Nick Jonas'... and the latter's recommission in 2016 is going to be called 'Nick Jonas X2'... With this naming convention, we're almost certain that his new record will be called 'N Jonas' when it drops towards the end of the year (ok, not really, but you get where we're coming from...) (Picture: Jerome Duran)
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17. Iggy Azalea - 'Digital Distortion'
Iggy Iggs has promised that she's going to be dropping buzz tracks from her upcoming album, 'Digital Distortion', without warning - and so far she's living up to her word! 'Azillion' popped up on her Soundcloud page in early January, and is a taste of what we can expect from her second studio album. (Picture: Instagram)
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18. Craig David - 'Following My Intuition'
It's been 6 years since his last record, and 16 years since his debut album, 'Born To Do It' topped the charts, but he's BACK! After a pretty special performance with X Factor's Reggie & Bollie, followed by a mind-blowing freestyle on Roman Kemp's show, everyone is SO ready for Craig's return. Expect his sixth studio album 'Following My Intuition to drop some time soon. (Picture: Capital)
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19. Tinashe - 'Joyride'
One of the newest faces on the RnB scene, Tinashe's second studio album is set to be released this year. After spending much of 2015 touring with Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry, we can't wait to hear how much of a pop diva Tinashe will sound on her new record. (Picture: Instagram)
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20. Katy B - 'Honey' (29th April 2016)
We haven't had a new album from homegrown talent Katy B since 2012's 'Little Red', but after the huge success of her KDA collaboration with Tinie Tempah, 'Turn The Music Louder (Rumble)', we're SO excited to hear what Katy's got up her sleeve. (Picture: PA Photos)
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21. Lawson - TBA
British rock quartet Lawson dropped their debut album FOUR YEARS AGO! Yes, 'Chapman Square' was released back in 2012, but with 2015's 'Roads' proving to be a huge success, we're excited to hear what the lads have been working on for the past few years. (Picture: Instagram)
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22. Miley Cyrus (TBA)
Back in August, Miley shocked us all with her raunchy MTV VMAs outfits, but the biggest surprise was when she dropped a free new album just before the credits rolled. 'Miley Cyrus And Her Dead Petz' was a special treat for fans, but apparently isn't her next major release - will her next album hit us like A 'Wrecking Ball' in 2016? It's possible! (Picture: Splash)
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23. Britney Spears (TBA)
The one-woman-machine that is Britney Spears has already confirmed that she's working on her NINTH studio album! The 'Pretty Girls' singer tweeted “Working hard and hardly working...new album...wheeeee!” in November, but with a caption like that, we're not gonna expect it until much later in the year. She DOES have a huge Las Vegas residency still going on, after all... (Picture: Instagram)
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24. Emeli Sande (TBA)
It feels like AGES since we had some new music from British sensation Emeli Sandé, and even longer since someone had to evict her from the Olympic Stadium... But with Rio 2016 just around the corner, SURELY that's a great time for Emeli to finally drop her second studio album? (Picture: Instagram)
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25. Rihanna - 'ANTI' (28th January 2016)
We thought #R8 was going to drop in 2014... then we were CERTAIN it was going to be in 2015... and thankfully it came on 28th January 2016 with the anthemic lead single 'Work'. (Pic: PA)
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26. Sia - 'This Is Acting' (29th January 2016)
While you might know Sia from her epic collaborations with David Guetta, including 'She Wolf', 'Bang My Head' and the massive 'Titanium', she's actually a hugely successful artist in her own right. Her last album, '1000 Forms Of Fear' included chart hits 'Chandelier' and 'Elastic Heart', so it's no surprise that Sia's latest record topped the charts worldwide within hours of its release on 29th January. (Picture: PA Images)
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27. Charlie Puth - 'Nine Track Mind' (29th January 2016)
Aside from 'Uptown Funk', it's safe to say that Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth's emotional tribute to Paul Walker, 'See You Again', was the biggest track of 2015. The worldwide chart-topper rocketed Charlie to fame, and has since claimed the number 1 spot once more with Meghan Trainor. His debut record, 'Nine Track Mind' was released on the 29th January 2016.
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28. Kanye West - 'The Life Of Pablo' (11th February 2016)
After lots of name changes, delays and general faffing, Kanye has FINALLY revealed the date we can hear his new album in full - 11th February 2016. After a heap of controversy around streaming exclusives and piracy wars, this is easily one of the most conflicted records of 2016... so far! (Picture: Getty)
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29. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - 'This Unruly Mess I've Made' (26th February 2016)
The duo's debut record 'The Heist', brought us HUGE hits 'Thrift Shop' and 'Can't Hold Us', so they've definitely got a tough job following up such an iconic album. The pair revealed in January 2016 that 'This Unruly Mess I've Made' would be dropping on 26th February 2016, and we're VERY excited! (Picture: Press)
