ONWARD AND UPWARD

RADAR Italia Celebrates 5 Years of Success With a New Class of Rising Stars

Since popping up in 2020, RADAR Italia has not only supported emerging artists but also reflected the cultural and musical richness of Italy. Over the past five years, it has spotlighted more than 40 rising talents, helping them grow and often gain international recognition. In turn, these diverse voices have made Italy’s music scene more inclusive, representative, and attuned to a new generation of fans with their unique sounds.

“This anniversary is a chance to celebrate the achievements of the many artists who have been part of the program. For five years, RADAR Italia has been a reference point for emerging talent, offering not just visibility but also concrete tools to grow and carve out a space in music,” said Melanie Parejo, Head of Music for South and Eastern Europe at Spotify. “But our commitment goes beyond selection: We support them at every stage of their journey, helping build authentic connections with audiences and explore new creative opportunities. RADAR is a bridge between artists and the millions of listeners looking for new voices and stories to discover.”

RADAR Italia has served as a launchpad for many artists, with the likes of BLANCO, Mara Sattei, Tony Boy, ARIETE, and Rhove representing some of the most influential voices in Italian music today.

On average, our featured RADAR Italia artists experience over a 100% increase in streams and an almost 200% increase in listeners within a year of joining the program. That includes BigMama, who went from 11,000 monthly listeners before joining RADAR Italia in 2021 to over 800,000 listeners by the time she took the stage at Sanremo in 2024. 

“Being part of Spotify RADAR was a milestone in my career, and I hope it will be the same for the young artists selected this year,” said BigMama. “Most importantly, the collaboration with Spotify doesn’t end when the program does—it continues over time, because when you become part of RADAR, you’re part of a family forever.”

Celebrating five years with RADAR Italia’s Class of 2025

To mark the fifth anniversary of RADAR Italia, Casa Spotify hosted a special event to both reflect on the program’s achievements and present the artists featured in the 2025 edition: Marte, Carla Hero, Emma Nolde, Glocky, Sayf, and camoufly.

Each of the six selected artists uniquely embodies the new trends that are reshaping Italy’s music landscape. As part of the program, all will receive on- and off-platform support, including special editorial placement, exclusive content opportunities, and personalized marketing plans, to help them connect with new fans.

Keep reading to meet our RADAR Italia Class of 2025.

Marte

A rapper from a small town in Puglia, Marte reinterprets old-school hip-hop through the lens of Gen Z. Marte’s STAY ON BARS freestyle series and early releases have quickly drawn attention for their authenticity and stylistic clarity.

Carla Hero

Hailing from Sicily, Carla Hero merges singing, rap, and introspective storytelling into a uniquely emotional style. Carla’s debut EP, BRILLEREMO, has forged a strong connection with younger audiences on social media, marking her as a rising voice of her generation.

Emma Nolde

Singer-songwriter and producer Emma Nolde has released three albums spanning pop and rock. The multifaceted talent has collaborated with a diverse range of Italian artists, including pop collective bnkr44 and singer-songwriter Niccolò Fabi, while also serving as a Spotify GLOW ambassador in 2024.

Glocky

Glocky is bringing rage rap and cloud rap to the Italian mainstream. With two albums to his name and several high-profile collaborations in tow, Glocky is now one of the most in-demand voices in Italy’s new urban scene.

Sayf

An Italo-Tunisian rapper and singer-songwriter, Sayf blends the singer-songwriter traditions of Genovese cantautorato and modern rap with a strong multicultural identity. His debut EP, SE DIO VUOLE, highlights his versatility and positions him as one of Italy’s most promising new talents.

Camoufly

The masked and fully independent camoufly is emerging as a key player in the new global dance scene. With recent tours in North America and Asia under his belt, and support from Spotify’s global editorial playlists, his hybrid sound is reaching new heights in 2025.

Discover more of the top sounds from the next wave of stars on RADAR Italia: