MTV's ARTISTS TO WATCH Campaign Names Top 13 for 2013

MTV today unveiled MTV Artist to Watch, a new pro-artist and music discovery initiative and campaign across all of MTV's television channels, websites and Social networks. To kick off the campaign, MTV has revealed its selections for the 13 artists to watch in 2013, as well as a concert in New York.

Every two weeks, MTV will select and then feature a new "Artist to Watch" that spans multiple genres including pop, EDM, hip hop and rock. Each artist will be showcased across MTV's various television channels (including MTV, MTV2, mtvU, MTV Hits and MTV Jams), websites (including MTV.com, Artists.MTV, MTV News, MTV Hive) and Social networks (including @MTV, MTV on Facebook, MTV on Instagram, MTV on Tumblr). MTV will showcase exclusive content across its various channels including live performances, interviews, video rotation, song placements in shows and more.

"MTV has an unprecedented ability to help artists cultivate and grow their fan base," said Amy Doyle, head of Music & Talent Strategy for MTV. "With our new Artist to Watch campaign, we're taking that mission a step further by creating music's most substantial launching pad across our television, digital and Social channels."

To jumpstart the year, MTV has revealed its annual artists to watch list. The MTV Artists to Watch for 2013 are (in alphabetical order): Alt-J, Joey Bada$$, Becky G, Robert DeLong, Gold Fields, Hunter Hayes, Trinidad James, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Austin Mahone, twenty I one I pilots, The Weeknd, Jessie Ware and Zedd.

"It's such an honor being recognized by MTV as an Artist to Watch," said Zedd. " 2012 was one of the best years of my life and the thought that we're just getting started is so exciting. Thanks to everyone who made this possible and to MTV for the support."

"I'm a music maker, so for the music I make to be acknowledged outside the genre I live in, means a lot to me!," said Hunter Hayes. "To think the songs I write might be connecting with new people in new audiences, especially on a network as huge as MTV...its wicked cool. This year has barely started and it's already awesome!"

Throughout the year, MTV will partner with each artist to break them big to the mainstream audience. Beginning today through January 27th, MTV will celebrate the announcement of these 13 artists, including the exclusive videos premieres for Robert Delong "Global Concepts" on January 8 and Zedd featuring Foxes "Clarity" on January 10 on MTV's AMTV, mtvU, and MTV Hits. Individual Artist to Watch campaigns will kick off on January 28th. Previous artists to watch from last year that went on to have massive careers include Frank Ocean, Fun, Avicii, and A$AP Rocky.

To launch the campaign, MTV will host of an Artist to Watch showcase at New York's famed HighLine Ballroom on January 16th, 2013, with four of the artists on the list: Zedd, Jessie Ware, Twenty One Pilots and Robert DeLong, performing. In addition to this sold out launch event, MTV plans to host additional Artist To Watch events in New York as well as other cities throughout 2013.