2024 was a bang of a year for music. From Charli xcx’s “BRAT” to Tyler, The Creator’s “CHROMAKOPIA,” we were left with admirable figures and new faces in the music scene.
As 2025 settles in, there’s much to say about what’s next for the industry. Here are our ins and outs for the year and what we expect.
Ins:
This year is all about supporting our favorite artists. If there’s anything that will be the best way to do that, it’s by spending all your money on concerts and festivals. We all know artists don’t make much revenue from streaming services, so might as well go to a concert or two, maybe even 20.
If that’s out of reach for you, it’s no worries. Music videos are a great way to look into a musician’s artistry and gather a vibe of how they perceive their music. This can also rub off on you as a viewer and listener. Soon the fanbase — along with the artist — will be intertwined. I know 2025 will have some good stuff in store for us. This has already proven itself from Doechii’s recent release of the “DENIAL IS A RIVER” music video which is full of goodness.
It’s the time of year when drag is at its hottest. With RuPaul’s Drag Race and the queens cooking up a storm with shows for the summer season, we should be looking out for new music drops. 2024 saw some new faces on Spotify, one of these being Pattie Gonia. It’s cute, it’s campy and it’s oh-so fierce.
Female artists took over last year, and it looks like 2025 will follow in that same vein. The Grammys, which will be hosted on Feb. 2, will feature plentiful female nominees. It’s about time we saw these artists rise to the top of the charts.
Finally, getting into more music and broadening your taste can make you the coolest person at any party. Listening to full albums is all you need to achieve your goals for the new year.
Outs:
Last year, we saw many “overnight sensations, ” including Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. This changed the way the artists’ fanbase reacted, leading to stalking and unsolicited hate. Just like you and me, they deserve privacy. Keep the fanbase on their good side and respect their boundaries. They exist, even when you are a celebrity.
When it comes to music, it’s important to align the tunes to the moment. Shuffling your liked songs playlist on Spotify — or whichever streaming service you choose — is not the way to go anymore. Get creative with your taste and get lost in new mixes and start building your own playlists. You’ll be granted aux every time.
TikTok may be on its way out the door, which means TikTok stars are going with it. Let go of your favorite TikTok artist and focus on the actual music being made every day in the local and mainstream scenes.
While the Drake and Kendrick feud was entertaining, internet beef is not on my New Year’s resolutions list. It gave us great music, but that same attention can be geared toward new, rising stars or creative endeavors from our beloved artists.
