Diversity became the key to success in 2005: Music Week's Rosterwatch highlights the new artists picked up by the UK's key labels and publishers over the past 12 months, revealing a strong year for the indies.(Rosterwatch 2005)

If 2004 was a period of great change in the UK music industry, 2005 was a year of consolidation. It was a year when a newly merged Sony BMG became highly active on the A&R front again, EMI and Warner joined them in attempting to compete with the all-conquering Universal and, just for good measure, independents continued to grow.

Over the following pages, Music Week's Rosterwatch outlines 2005's key signings across more than 40 of the UK's key labels, independent and major, as well as, for the first time, more than a dozen key publishers.

Although no such listing could ever be completely definitive, this year's listing reveals a diversity which suggests success could come from all corners of the business in 2006.

Overall, pop music in 2005 was defined by the sounds of artists such as Kaiser Chiefs, James Blunt and Gorillaz, despite the brilliant albums from Sugababes, Girls Aloud and Madonna which fell in the last quarter.

On an A&R front, it was a year which saw a diverse range of artists signed, from the melancholy tones of Corinne Bailey Rae (who signed with EMI) to the soulful James Morrison, who signed to Polydor, alongside an equally diverse roster which included Alesha Dixon, formerly of Mis-Teeq, Guillemots and Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo. Meanwhile, Warner Bros signed Dangermouse' latest project Gnarls Barkley and local group The Crimea among others.

"I think overall it's been a brilliant year," says V2 A&R director Charlie Pinder. "I mean, there's always great music around, but the diversity of strong artists coming through now is really exciting. Before, when pop music had its grip, it made it tougher for the artists that generally excite me personally to come through. But that's not the case now."

The independent sector continued to grow well throughout 2005. This was highlighted by the fact that arguably the year's most hotly sought after UK band turned down offers from the majors in favour of an independent label. Domino signed the Arctic Monkeys in the first half of the year and the label went on to enjoy its first number one single with the group's debut I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor. Their debut album, Whatever You Say I Am, That's What I'm Not is expected to provide one of 2006's biggest albums.