NME Readers' Poll results:
Best New Singer - Elton John
Best New Group - McGuinness Flint

Record Mirror Readers' Poll results - Most Promising Group/Artist:
1. Olivia Newton-John
2. T Rex
3. Elton John
4. New World
5. The Sweet
6. Mungo Jerry
7. Fame and Price
8. Labi Siffre
9. Gilbert O'Sullivan
10. Curved Air
11. Marvin Welch and Farrar
12. Emerson Lake and Palmer 13. Dave Edmunds
14. CCS
15. McGuinness Flint
16. Yes
17. Tony Christie
18. Wild Angels
19. Dave and Ansell Collins
20. Atomic Rooster

Melody Maker Readers' Poll results - Brightest Hope

British: 1. Wishbone Ash 2. Lindisfarne 3. Strawbs 4. Medicine Head 5. Osibisa 6. Heads, Hands and Feet 7. Rory Gallagher 8. Van Der Graaf Generator 9. Curved Air 10. Groundhogs

International: 1. Mountain 2. Osibisa 3. Loudon Wainwright III 4. Wishbone Ash 5. Carole King 6. Amon Duul II 7. Lindisfarne 8. John Kongos 9= Head, Hands and Feet 9= Yes

Record Mirror journalists' tips for the top:
Design
Stud
Hawkwind
Colin Bluntstone
Byzantium
Gerry Rafferty

Melody Maker journalists' tips for the top: Linda Lewis Joe Egan Dave Lambert ELO Natural Acoustic Band Flamin' Groovies Annette Peacock

and the Melody Maker nomination for Discovery of 1971: Gilbert O'Sullivan

Record Mirror Readers' Poll results - Most Promising Act (votes in brackets):

1. Lindisfarne (488) 2. Slade (361) 3. T Rex (322) 4. Neil Reid (285) 5. Chicory Tip (247) 6. New Seekers (238) 7. Colin Blunstone (216) 8. Faces (202) 9. Olivia Newton-John (189) 10. Labi Siffre (130) 11. Rod Stewart (125) 12. Wings (109) 13. Middle of the Road (85) 14. New World (79) 15. Rock 'n' Roll Allstars (64) 16. Badfinger (47) 17. Sweet (47) 18. Tony Christie (45) 19. David Bowie (42) 20. America (41)

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1973

Melody Maker journalists' tips for the top:
Bette Middler
Home
Status Quo
Gentle Giant
John Martyn
Stackridge
Glencoe

Record Mirror Readers' Poll results - Best British Newcomer (votes in brackets):
1. Clifford T Ward ( 549)
2. Nazareth (304)
3. Suzi Quatro (261)
4. Peters and Lee (216)
5. Wizzard (119)
6. Simon Turner (86)
7. Geordie (81)
8. Mud (76)
9. Albert Hammond (71)
10. Barry Blue (64)

Record Mirror Readers' Poll results - Best International Newcomer (votes in brackets):
1. David Essex (402)
2. Suzi Quatro (383)
3. Peters and Lee ( 256)
4. Clifford T Ward (201)
5. Barry Blue (198)
6. Marie Osmond (173)
7. Nazareth (152)
8. 10cc (138)
9. Linda Lewis (102)
10. Focus (87)

Brian Connolly, writing in the Melody Maker in December 1972, looked both forward and back: 'This year has been a year of bringing glamour and colour back into music. Slade and T Rex are good examples. The head scene is gradually losing its hold. Slade were the stars of 72, but I don't think they'll last all that long next year.
'The great talent of Junior Campbell is really going to be recognized in the coming months, and Roy Young should get an increase in following. But bands like Led Zeppelin are going to have a struggle to survive next year.'

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1974

Disc writers predict the stars of the year
Michael Benton: Glitterband, Mick Ronson, Leo Sayer
Rosemary Horide: Queen, Clifford T Ward
Beverley Legge: Strider, Phillip Goodhand-Tait
Hugh Kyle: Back Door, Dennis Couldson, Alan Stivell
Ray Fox-Cumming: Golden Earring, John Gaughan
Caroline Boucher: Kiki Dee Band, Sylvester
Rosalind Russell: Colin Blunstone, Alex Harvey Band

NME Readers' Poll results - Most Promising New Name (British):
1. Leo Sayer
2. Queen
3. Mike Oldfield
4. Nazareth
5. Blue

NME Readers' Poll results - Most Promising New Name (International):
1. Golden Earring
2. Leo Sayer
3. PFM
4. Queen
5. Mike Oldfield

Disc Readers Poll results - Brightest Hope
1. David Essex
2. Nazareth
3. Suzi Quatro
4. Mud
5. Barry Blue
6. Thin Lizzy
7. Geordie
8. Mick Ronson
9. Blue
10. Queen

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1975

NME Readers' Poll results - Most Promising New Name (International):
1. Bad Company
2. Bachman Turner Overdrive
3. Sparks
4. Queen
5. Lynyrd Skynyrd
6. Montrose
7. Ace
8. PFM
9. Splinter
10. Tangerine Dream

NME Readers' Poll results - Most Promising New Name (British):

1. Bad Company 2. Ace 3. Queen 4. Supertramp 5. Splinter 6. Sparks 7. Hello 8. Pilot 9. Hustler 10. Wally

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1976

Record Mirror journalists' tips for the top:
Mr Big
Stevenson's Rocket
Sailor
Smokie
Glyder

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