Emerging artists

Mumford & Sons
“A lot of people in the indie and hipster crowds won’t be happy to know that the masses are appreciating Mumford & Sons. But you know what? This year I do see them crossing over to pop, and it’ll be an easy transition for them. And word is that it’s something they’re actually looking forward to. I guarantee you they’ll be roaming the halls of Z100 in 2013.”

Ed Sheeran
“Ed Sheeran absolutely is a huge artist. I think he has that look that’s so puppy-dog. It’s good to see someone winning because of the merit of their music and not necessarily their flash.”

Established artists

Bruno Mars
“‘Unorthodox Jukebox’ really catapulted him into a whole different level. ‘Locked Out of Heaven’ is the first release from that, and when you hear a song like that from an artist, it makes you go, ‘Oh my gosh, they are evolving and they have that different sound! [But] at the same time they still maintain the signature sound that made us know and love them in the beginning.’”

 Justin Timberlake(!)
“He’s gonna have a whole new audience — he’s been away for that long.”
 
Justin Bieber
“The thing about Bieber is he continues to put out music that shows how he’s evolving. He is still coming into his own as a performer and it may be difficult for some to take him seriously because of his youthful start … but he’s becoming an older guy, and he’s really doing a great job. His voice sounds awesome, he’s very soulful, and he’s easy to work with and collaborate with, we hear, so I really think 2013’s still gonna be another year for him. … An acoustic album is on the way. He knows how people … pay attention when he performs acoustically and so I think he wants that to be his next message.”