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We live in times that are chaotic and full of uncertainty, and the breakout pop moments led by flagship artists are brash, bold, and at-times confrontational statements that reflect the vigor of our larger world. Countries and politicians were competing on some of the world’s biggest stages, while we witnessed an Olympics and a presidential election in the same calendar year. Competition can be friendly or divisive. It creates a culture of us versus them. The anthems of 2024 held up a mirror to these societal discords. Kendrick Lamar quite literally told the world, “They not like us.” Charli XCX created a maximalist campaign bold enough to plaster neon green over a sea of beige billboards. Established and rising artists alike, from Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter to Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song,” continued to run the gauntlet to dismantle country music’s grip on traditionalism. All the while, music veterans and hopefuls grappled with how to deal with the rise of generative AI: either swim against the current or swim with it. Yet in the chaos of these rivalries, the familiarity of nostalgia remained our greatest unifier—a tool that Hollywood cashed in on, big time. 

It's a daunting landscape to be a new artist. They're competing with spirited statements by big-name stars, as well as the charm and comfort of nostalgia. Last year, in our inaugural year-end Trending Music Report, we found that emerging artists used short-form platforms as ground zero, meeting their audiences at the point of music discovery. Twelve months later, every musician understands the power of adapting a social-first model. The artists who won the year, like TikTok-wailer Tommy Richman or self-proclaimed “nasty girl” Tinashe, understood that no matter what form music takes (whether a quirky short-form clip or a chart-topping anthemic), success is never guaranteed. No one artist, established or otherwise, can dominate any lane and their audience has the final say. In order for music—thus, taste—to stay subjective, it must remain undefined and slightly unruly. The most impactful music moments last year were aided by accidental dance trends, the evolution of genre to aesthetics and, as in the waking world, the sportsmanship of what it means when the winner takes all.​