6 things to expect on radio this fall

Carly Mallenbaum

USA TODAY

While television has its annual upfronts to present new shows to advertisers, the 850 iHeartRadio stations have regular summits to preview upcoming songs from record labels. Usually, those radio gatherings are held exclusively for radio programmers, and it's where many artists debut new singles like The Weeknd did in January with his then-unknown song Earned It.

For the first time, USA TODAY got to take a peek into this summer's gathering-- which featured more than 40 presentations and 45 performances from record labels. Based on what we saw, here's what we expect hundreds of pop music stations to consider adding to their fall lineups:

1. Boy bands and former boy banders are still hot

Jonas Brother Nick Jonas presented his club-ready new single, former The Wanted member Nathan Sykes sang his jazzy, big-band numbers and British boy band The Vamps played a not-yet-unreleased single of poppy goodness. We have a feeling those tunes will hit the airwaves in a few months.

2. Prepare for empowering anthems from pop princesses

Hailee Steinfeld's new single is all about self empowerment.

Like Katy Perry's Roar? Then you're in luck: Demi Lovato is releasing a song about being "a boss right now," Ariana Grande is putting out a sassy, self-confident track (that she premiered via playful lip-dub video at the summit) and Hailee Steinfeld, the Oscar nominee and Pitch Perfect 2 star, has a new radio-ready track called Love Myself.

3. Some unlikely collaborations will likely hit airwaves

Rita Ora has a new single with Chris Brown ready for radio.

Are two music stars better than one? Time will tell, but be on the lookout for many pop parings. Among them: Rita Ora and Chris Brown teaming up for a sexy track, Big Boi and Phantogram putting out a new album they just wrapped and John Legend and Meghan Trainor duetting on love song Like I'm Gonna Lose You.

4. Superstars Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift are ready to share their next singles

Justin Bieber presents his new single in a T-shirt emblazoned with the face of a music exec.

Bieber showed up at the summit presented his slick dance track What Do You Mean, which will be released Aug. 28, and Taylor Swift announced, via video, that her next single from 1989 will be the swoony, slowed-down Wildest Dreams.

5. Keep your eyes peeled for multitalented singer/songwriter/musicians

Some rising artists poised for more pop play include the drummer/singer/video game DJ Robert DeLong (his live setup includes a joystick), emotional English performer James Bay (he says he's used to seeing people cry during his sets) and the rebranded piano-pop star Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, formerly of Jack's Mannequin and Something Corporate.

6. More "classic" rock is coming

Have you listened to rockers The Struts yet?

Cheap Trick is coming out with new music, as is Metallica. Meanwhile, new-to-U.S. rockers The Struts presented a short set that had attendees on their feet and thinking about frontman Luke Spiller, "wait, was that a young Mick Jagger?"

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