THE LONG SHOTS

After a little arm-twisting, several radio programmers were willing to pick virtual unknowns that they believe will become household names in the coming months.

St. James picks the debut album by Delinquent Habits, a bilingual L.A. rap trio produced by Cypress Hill’s Sen Dog. The single “Tres Delinquentes” is already one of the hottest songs on the station.

KSCA program director Mike Morrison likes the upcoming debut by Sovory, whose album he compares to Seal and whose concert presence, he says, is like “Luther Vandross fronting a rock band.”

KROQ’s Worden thinks the band Nada Surf, with a debut coming from Elektra, could duplicate the success two years ago of Weezer.

KIIS-FM music director Tracy Austin goes with singer-songwriter Fiona Apple, whom she jokingly calls “Mariah Morissette--angry like Alanis, but softer.”