Hey guys! My name is Ryan Riccetti, and this is Pop Now, a weekly blog dedicated to everyone’s guiltiest pleasure: pop music!

With 99.7 NOW’s Summer Splash concert just days away, I’ll be giving you a crash course on all five of the artists performing at the event so you can sing along to their every word! Make sure to introduce yourselves to each of the artists and get ready for some fun in the sun!

Cher Lloyd
Although Cher Lloyd’s success in America seems to have happened overnight, her mainstream musical journey actually began two years ago during her audition for the UK’s X-Factor. After placing fourth in the competition, she’s truly proven that you don’t have to win a talent competition to come out on top. She’s already experienced huge musical success overseas, and now she’s taking America by storm. While you’ve probably already heard Want U Back blaring over your car stereo, make sure to give a listen to her other hit singles, Swagger Jagger and With Ur Love before you see her live this week!

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Austin Mahone
Following a similar career path to Justin Bieber, Austin Mahone got his musical break through a rapid-growing fanbase on YouTube and Twitter. After making covers of Chris Brown and Bruno Mars’ hit songs, he’s finally heading out on his own to start up his own career. His latest single, Say Somethin’, is already starting to gain attention, but he’s got plenty more to offer during his live show! If you want to hear more from this new teen sensation, take a listen to 11:11 and head over to his YouTube channel for more material before seeing him at Summer Splash!

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Marina and the Diamonds
After experiencing her fair share of success and critical acclaim overseas for her first album, Marina and the Diamonds is finally gaining traction in America with her sophomore release, Electra Heart. With a fresh look to accompany her new musical direction, Marina is finally poised for huge success in the pop market. Her newest single, Primadonna, is the perfect introduction to her new sound, as well as the album’s themes about love, glamour, and heartbreak. If you want to hear more from Marina before heading out to Summer Splash, make sure to check out How to Be a Heartbreaker, and Lies before the show!

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Sean Kingston
With over five years in the music business and two hit albums already under his belt, Sean Kingston is definitely ready to make some waves at this year’s Summer Splash concert! Known best for his island-infused pop jams like Beautiful Girls and Fire Burning, Kingston is finally ready to make his return to music with his third album and brand new single, Back 2 Life (Live It Up), featuring rapper T.I. If you’re ready to party all night with Sean at this year’s Summer Splash, be sure to check out all of the songs above and get ready for a good time!

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Chris Rene
Last but not least, we’ve got Chris Rene, an upcoming artist who’s fresh off a third-place finish on season one of the US X-Factor last year. Like Cher Lloyd, Rene continued his focus on music and signed with LA Reid’s label, Epic Records. The Santa Cruz native has already enjoyed some success with his debut single, Young Homie, an original tune that quickly secured Rene’s place during early X-Factor auditions. Now, Chris is continuing the soulful pop sound with his next single, Trouble. If you like what you’re seeing so far, make sure to give the songs a listen and get ready to sing along at this year’s Summer Splash!

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You’ve made it! Now that you finished the crash course on all of our Summer Splash artists, we want your thoughts! Vote in the poll above or comment below to tell us who you’re most excited to see this year!