‘I founded the Spice Girls – these UK artists are set to be the next pop queens’

Female artist are shaping the sound of every day Britain and Spice Girls founder, Chris Herbet says this new wave of girl power in music is setting the tone for one of the strongest eras for women

Before you even glance at the charts, you can hear it – the soulful tones of Olivia Dean drifting from coffee shops, Raye’s narrative-driven tunes pumping through gym speakers, FLO’s vocals providing the soundtrack to late-night vibes. Female artists are setting the tone for everyday life in Britain, a moment that feels more significant than a fleeting trend.

Raye, in particular, has seen a massive surge in popularity with a whopping 263% increase in plays. But what’s driving this demand for female vocalists?

Chris Herbet, founder of the Spice Girls and a board director at Audoo, believes what we’re hearing across the country isn’t a passing moment but “an incredibly strong moment for female artists.”

For him, the rise in women dominating the public soundscape comes down to the way they make music. “Women in pop build worlds through storytelling, and that emotional transparency helps them form deeply loyal fanbases,” he said.

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And we’ve seen how powerful that connection can be with artists like Taylor Swift proving the strength of pop on a global scale. But Chris stresses that it doesn’t end with her.

Olivia Dean, Raye, FLO and Lola Young – all Grammy nominees this year – “are proving that new voices can define this era too.”

“Olivia’s new album, for example, resonates because it’s warm, human and unpretentious,” he told us. Her music has now moved beyond streaming charts and into everyday spaces, driving a surge in public-play numbers in cafés, shops and gyms.

Raye’s explosive rise over the past few months, he adds, isn’t the result of an overnight moment. It’s the outcome of her finally having the freedom to release the music she’s always wanted to make after parting ways with her previous label.

“She has always had the talent, but timing, autonomy and the right conditions matter. Now that she’s telling her story honestly and on her own terms, listeners are responding,” Chris explained. “Her 263% surge in venue plays shows that the public isn’t just aware of her – they’re choosing her.”

FLO’s trajectory shows a different side of the female-led surge. Audiences are craving authentic R&B again, and the trio have tapped into that with remarkable clarity.

“Their harmonies and modern take on classic R&B echo the strengths of groups who came before them, including the Spice Girls, while carving out something fresh for a new generation,” Chris added. “Their Grammy nomination marks an important return of UK girl groups to the global conversation.”

This moment, he says, feels familiar. It echoes back to the early ’90s, when he assembled the Spice Girls and introduced a brand of “girl power” the industry had never seen before. And while the landscape has changed dramatically since then, the energy feels the same.

Chris concluded: “Today, artists like Olivia Dean, RAYE and FLO are carrying that spirit forward and bringing a new energy into the music landscape.”

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