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What's next for music in 2025?
The high-quality albums are coming, but it's not going to be an easy year
January 29th, 2025
Although it's only January, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of transition for the music industry, particularly in the live events sector, which is increasingly struggling. At the same time, several albums expected to be released over the next 12 months have caught the attention of critics and could mark a definitive turning point for several artists. It will be interesting to see how the music scene continues to evolve and whether, as feared, the relationships among the different players (artists, audiences, listeners, industry professionals, and so on) that shape this field will be redefined.
The Best Albums of 2025
Among the most anticipated albums of the year is Eusexua by FKA Twigs (released on January 24), thanks to its singles, which won over listeners with the refined avant-pop sounds of the British singer. Her performance at Primavera Sound is also among the most anticipated, second only to that of Charli XCX. On the last Friday of January, The Weeknd will release his sixth studio album (and possibly his last under this stage name), Hurry Up Tomorrow, after postponing its launch due to the Los Angeles wildfires. This production marks the return of one of the most appreciated pop stars of recent years, able to win over both the public and critics. A few weeks later, on February 28, Nothing, the new album from the Darkside project by Nicolas Jaar, will be released. This week, Lady Gaga announced that her new album, Mayhem, will be released on March 7. Meanwhile, May 21 marks the release of the tenth album by Lana Del Rey, The Right Person Will Stay. These five titles are the main albums of the first half of 2025, for which confirmed information is available. However, it is likely that others will be released unexpectedly—a trend increasingly appreciated by artists. For instance, after the success of Motomami, something new from Rosalía is anticipated. And Taylor Swift? Observers agree that the American singer will not halt her production in 2025: some expect a new single, but the vast majority of Swifties are eagerly awaiting the release of reputation (Taylor's Version), as the artist only has until mid-year to leverage copyright rights. There's also A$AP Rocky, who has promised an album rich with prestigious collaborations: Don't Be Dumb, a record that—if confirmed—could become one of the most significant releases of 2025. At the same time, the fate of the New York rapper will be decided in the coming weeks due to a legal trial that could cost him 24 years in prison. Critics also expect new material from Erykah Badu, LCD Soundsystem, Pulp, The XX, and Massive Attack, who will tour Italy this summer (stopping in Milan, Ferrara, and Gorizia) and reportedly have an album ready for release, currently held up by contractual issues.
What the Year Holds for Concert Organizers
The year 2025 could mark a turning point in the live music sector: as reported by the Guardian, the early announcement of concerts has become an increasingly common trend aimed at maximizing ticket sales. For instance, Primavera Sound this year revealed its lineup in October instead of January. Moreover, compared to the past, there are relatively few headliners capable of drawing large crowds, which is flattening the programming of major international festivals and widening the gap between medium- and large-scale events. Rising production costs, driven by inflation, are making concert organization increasingly challenging, with dynamic pricing for tickets—where costs rise with demand—becoming more common, much like in the airline industry. This is not good for the music industry, and the consequences are clear: in the United Kingdom, a country with a particularly strong festival culture, over 70 music events were canceled in the past year. Even Berlin's club scene is feeling the impact—recently, for example, the famous Watergate shut down. Will the music sector withstand these upheavals, or will 2025 represent a “before” and “after” for this field?