Who are the Brazilians chosen for the YouTube Music Foundry program in 2026

Amanda Magalhães, Franco, The Sir! and MC Luanna: the Brazilians chosen by YouTube Music's Foundry program in 2026
Reproduction/Instagram
Created in 2015, the YouTube Music Foundry program announced, this Wednesday (3), the names of the 24 artists in the project's class of 2026, whose mission is to support the diverse and innovative voices of the global independent music community.
Names like Dua Lipa, Rosalía and Omar Apollo have already received support from the project. Among the Brazilians who have already been on the Foundry list are Marina Sena, Duquesa, Tuyo, ÀVUÀ, Kaike and Ana Laura Lopes.
In 2026, the program selected artists from 11 countries. And among those selected, there are three Brazilians:
Amanda Magalhães
Franco, The Sir!
MC Luanna
According to Vivien Lewit, YouTube's Global Artist Director, "Brazil is a global force in the music industry and our goal is to bring the next wave of Brazilian artists to a global stage with Foundry." Vivien.
Brazilians at Foundry 2026
AMANDA MAGALHÃES
AMANDA MAGALHÃES
Disclosure/YouTube
Amanda Magalhães is 34 years old and is a singer, actress, producer and songwriter. The Rio artist's first album, "Fragma" (2020), featured appearances by Seu Jorge and Liniker.
With work focused on the contemporary Brazilian music scene, Amanda has also gone viral on social media with some videos in which she makes remixes with speeches from celebrities and authorities such as presenters Ana Maria Braga and William Bonner and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Amanda has 10.8 thousand subscribers on her YouTube channel, 217 thousand followers on Instagram and almost 290 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify.
Initial plugin text
g1 - What was it like receiving the news of being selected by Foundry?
Amanda Magalhães - I freaked out when I found out! YouTube has always been part of my creative journey, whether through music, my remixes or the content I produce for the networks. Being recognized by such a relevant initiative, which focuses on artists and creators with potential for innovation, gave me a great feeling that I'm on the right path. In addition to happiness, I also felt a great incentive to continue experimenting and expanding possibilities within my work.
g1 - How do you think this will impact your career from now on?
Amanda Magalhães - I believe that Foundry arrives at a very important moment for me. I'm developing new musical and audiovisual projects and I see this opportunity as a chance to broaden horizons, exchange experiences and explore formats that I might not be able to try alone. I also see the program as a way to strengthen my connection with the public and take my work to new audiences.
g1 - Do you follow the project as a whole? Do you keep an eye on the selected artists?
Amanda Magalhães - Yes, I always followed. I enjoy observing how each creator uses the platform in a unique way to develop language and build community. It was through the program that I discovered some artists of whom I am a big fan today, such as Rosalía, Duquesa, Arlo Parks...
g1- Who are your references in music?
Amanda Magalhães - I hope I won't be misunderstood with what I'm going to answer, but lately I've been trying to be my own reference. I mean trying to be faithful to what is genuine about me as an artist. It's kind of inevitable that we are a sum of everything we've already consumed because the things we love stay inside us in some way.
I also think it's rich that we can be inspired by each other. But I have avoided using the work of those I like as a guide so as not to fall into the trap of failing to live my own creative journey.
Relying on musical references has already prevented me from delving deeper into the possibilities that I myself can bring as someone who creates. I feel like on the new album I'm rediscovering myself and exploring new places because of this.
When I show a song from the new repertoire to someone and they say it reminds them of so-and-so or so-and-so, I get a bit upset because I feel like I failed in my mission. But anyway, it's an exercise. And that doesn't mean that certain artists haven't marked me in an emblematic way in my musical formation process: Rita Lee, Jamiroquai, Nação Zumbi, Lauryn Hill, Marcelo D2, Billie Holiday, Banda Black Rio, Hiatus Kayote, Childish Gambino... are just some of them. The list is long and quite eclectic.
FRANCO, THE SIR!
FRANCO, THE SIR!
Disclosure/YouTube
Franco, The Sir! He is 19 years old, self-taught and produces, mixes and composes his own tracks. With work focused on national trap, he has already caught the attention of artists in the scene such as Brandão, DaLua, Alee, among others.
Together with Ajuliacosta, last month the singer participated in the single "Sua Favorita", by Budah.
Franco, The Sir! has 44.5 thousand subscribers on his YouTube channel, 154 thousand followers on Instagram and almost 657 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify.
Initial plugin text
g1 - What was it like receiving the news of being selected by Foundry?
Franco, The Sir! - I was very happy because a slightly more intimate collaboration with YouTube is something I had wanted for a long time, and it came in a very natural way.
It's comforting to know that, in some way, YouTube with its infinite range of artists has somehow also believed in what I've created.
g1 - How do you think this will impact your career from now on?
Franco, The Sir! - I think the biggest impact is in relation to the expansion of the delivery of my work, not only to the public, but also to other companies that work with streaming platforms, reproduction platforms. I think YouTube Foundry is the expansion for this.
g1 - Do you follow the project as a whole? Keep an eye on the selected artists?
Franco, The Sir! - I was somewhat aware of the project, I didn't follow it in such an up-to-date way, but I am aware of the impact of the project since the creation of YouTube Foundry as a general context of YouTube's history.
g1 - Who are your references in music?
Franco, The Sir! - My references in music are very diverse. I have my favorites that I've been listening to forever, Daniel Caesar is one of them. And Jean Tassy, here in Brazil. But it's a very extensive range. There's Djavan, Thundercat... I really like musicality.
MC LUANNA
MC LUANNA
Disclosure/YouTube
Mc Luanna is 31 years old, born in Bahia, but lives in São Paulo. Singer and songwriter, she uses her music to translate her experience through lyrics in the rap, trap and funk segments.
Although she never dreamed of being a rapper, she began dedicating herself to rhyming during the pandemic. In March, Mc Luanna released her most recent album, "Irrefreável".
Mc Luanna has 158 thousand subscribers on her YouTube channel, 663 thousand followers on Instagram and almost 2.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Initial plugin text
g1 - What was it like receiving the news of being selected by Foundry?
Mc Luanna - Receiving the news was incredible! Anyone who has followed my career as Mc Luanna knows that I have always been an independent artist, so seeing my work recognized by a program of the importance of the Foundry is very significant! I was very grateful for the invitation and the opportunity to expand my sound with their support!
g1 - How do you think this will impact your career from now on?
Mc Luanna - My expectations are the best possible! I believe that Foundry will bring an extremely positive and significant impact to my career from now on, my entire team and I are already working hard, dedicating ourselves to the maximum to deliver an impeccable result within all the project's proposals, and I feel like it's the perfect time, because we have some projects being built for the course of this year, and YouTube's support will be the fuel we needed to make everything happen in the best way!
g1 - Do you follow the project as a whole? Keep an eye on the selected artists?
Mc Luanna - Yes, for sure! I've been following Foundry for a long time and I have a huge affection for this project, precisely because it has this sensitive look at the independent market, I always keep an eye on who is selected and I think it's incredible to see how the program brings new names to the surface.
And for me it has an even more special taste, because I saw friends of mine participating up close, like the Duchess. I was very happy with their project and each one's trajectory. Even at the time I was already thinking: "I can't wait for my moment", and finally that moment has arrived, and I'm very excited to be part of this story now!
g1 - Who are your references in music?
Mc Luanna - My musical references come a lot from what I see with my eyes. The movement that the Duchess makes, that Tasha and Tracie makes, is great. I'm a fan of my friends and their movement makes me move.
Also read: Is this the end of record labels? Independent model grows in the music market, but brings challenges
How to be part of Foundry?
Youtube.
Dado Ruvic/Reuters
Vivien Lewit explains that every independent artist in development who has a music video release scheduled is eligible and can submit their applications for the project.
"The curation process is highly collaborative, rigorous and rooted in local culture. It is a massive team effort that involves our global music teams evaluating artists in different regions, including the Americas, Europe and Asia. We analyze thousands of artists to find those who truly represent the future of independent music and with whom we can partner long-term," he says.
She also mentions that appearing on the list is just the entry point. The program includes a partnership that prepares the artist for success. Support includes:
Financial Support: Artists receive a direct financial grant to invest in their craft, whether for content creation, production, or independent release campaigns;
Support and Education: Ongoing, dedicated support from YouTube partnership managers, early access to the latest YouTube Music features, and mentoring opportunities to help navigate the digital music ecosystem;
Marketing and Promotion: Support with global marketing resources, playlist support, and high-visibility promotional opportunities - including artist presence on billboards in emblematic locations such as Times Square in New York and the Sé Subway Station in São Paulo.

Source: G1