There is a lot of talk about new tech and AI floating around. Innovation is cool and all, but new artists are the lifeblood of this industry. I love knowing that every 6 months or so, a new player enters the game and captures the hearts and souls of the world, completely changing the rhythm of the business. This process will never stop, and we can bank on that.So, as we look ahead at the new music landscape in 2025, there are tons of developing acts to keep our eyes on.Here are some artists to watch who I believe are poised to have break-out years in 2025:
Yeat - Like it or love it, he’s helping change the landscape of Hip Hop from lyric-forward to world-building, and ushering in a new sound. The deck is stacked for this guy and you know the buzz is real when he already has a song with Drake.
Lola Young - She popped on TikTok in 2024. But now that she’s got our attention, all signs look to her breaking into the mainstream in 2025.
NLE Choppa - He’s turning 2025 into his breakout year. NLE’s already been in the game for a while but now he’s got the chops to be a star. This is the college act of the spring but also has an arsenal of hits coming. This Imagine Dragons song that dropped this week “Dare U” is just a taste of what’s coming.
Meg Donnelly - Known for playing Ash in the Netflix comedy series Team Toon and starring as Taylor Otto in the ABC sitcom American Housewife, this artist has the package and the sound. I’m just waiting for her Sabrina-type beat to drop and it’s on!
KenTheMan - This lady can rap! The Houston-bred beauty (who also happens to be a slick-talking lyrical beast) can ride a beat with aggressively raw storytelling. The music is explicit, but the style and swagger is undeniable.
Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso - The duo debuted their first album BAÑO MARÍA in April. They bring a fresh flavor to Latino Hip Hop. The music is progressive, undeniable, and feels free.
FLO - We potentially have our next great girl group here. Their debut album “Access All Areas” was released in November and has the UK version of Destiny's Child and 702 written all over it. It doesn't hurt that they have a great Missy song on the album too.
Hope Tala - Her sound blends R&B, neo-soul, Latin, and bossa nova. Her first album is coming out on February 28th. She’s opening for Zayn Malik on the US leg of his 2025 Stairway to the Sky tour.
Medium Build - I like this guy. Medium Build's Nicholas Carpenter. Sometimes overnight success takes 10 years. He’s got the songs, connections, and style to be a big star this year.
Laila! - Umi taught Yasiin Bey to shine a light on the world. Now he’s blessed us with his daughter Laila! But she’s not an industry plant. She’s vibey, eclectic, and cool. Her first album Gap Year dropped late last year and she’s got a lot of potential to shine her light for the world to see.
It’s an exciting time again for music, and this list is nowhere near exhaustive. As the world turns there will be big opportunities and new lanes for voices to break out.We put together a playlist of tracks from each of these artists. Check them out for yourself and tell me what you think: Artist To Watch In ‘25 Playlist.
BEATS
Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and MoreWhether you prefer pop, rock, country or rap, artists from all genres are hitting the road in the new year, including Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, Sabrina Carpenter, Usher, Ed Sheeran, Zayn Malik, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Shakira, Billy Joel and Gracie Abrams (Hollywood Reporter).
37 Albums We Can’t Wait to Hear in 2025 What To Expect When You’re Expecting LG7.Plenty of great records are on the way. We’ve got a Beatle and a Beach Boy going country, throwback jams from Franz Ferdinand and Tunde Adebimpe, more lovely electronic work from FKA Twigs and Panda Bear, and a bustling rumor mill of potential releases (Vultures).
Trends driving the Music Business in 2025We’re hitting the halfway point of these roaring twenty-twenties and it’s fascinating to see how fast things are transforming. It feels like we’re headed into a boom year with big opportunities (Jesse Kirshbaum).
How Spotify and The Weeknd Came Together to Usher in a New Era for the Streaming Platform“What a beautiful and unforgettable experience as an artist,” The Weeknd says in voiceover early into his new Spotify exclusive concert film. Billions Club Live with The Weeknd: A Concert Film is the first for the streaming platform. Released natively on the streaming platform first, the over 45-minute film chronicles the artist’s December Billions Club Live show (Hollywood Reporter).
The New Rules of Youth CultureIn the five years since we published our last audience report, a global pandemic, political upheaval and growing anxieties around the climate have profoundly transformed how we live. But through all this change, one thing remains constant: youth culture isn’t just surviving – it’s thriving (Boiler Room).
Clio’s Winners Gallery Discover the best of Advertising, Entertainment, Health, Music, and Sports, and uncover trends, insights, and talent that define the future of creative (Clios).
The Top 5 Music Campaigns You Need To Know About Right NowA creative music personalization campaign stood out among a slew of music videos and remixes that dominated the latest edition of Ad Age’s Top 5 Music roundup (Ad Age).
Mac Miller’s ‘Balloonerism’ Is Tied to a Short Film, Advance Screenings Set for Theaters WorldwideMac Miller‘s lost album “Balloonerism,” due out Jan. 17, is arriving with a short film set for advance worldwide screenings on Jan. 15 in the United States and Jan. 16 internationally. Tickets are available to purchase now for five dollars, with all proceeds benefiting the Mac Miller Fund (Variety).
Jimmy John’s Kickin’ Ranch Returns With A Pop-Punk Anthem Straight Out Of 2006To celebrate the nationwide return of Kickin’ Ranch, the sandwich chain has dropped ‘Bring Back my Kickin’ Ranch,’ a pop-punk anthem inspired entirely by social media comments begging for the sauce’s return. The campaign, created with VaynerMedia, turns customer obsession into a full-fledged music video straight out of the MySpace era (The Drum).
Bad Bunny Sets Residency in Puerto Rico With First Shows Exclusive to LocalsFollowing the release of his sixth studio album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Bad Bunny is plotting a 21-date residency in his native Puerto Rico. Aptly titled “No Me Quiero Ir De Aquí” (“I Don’t Want to Leave Here”), a lyric made famous by his “Un Verano Sin Ti” hit, “El Apagón,” the residency will take place at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico (Variety).
I’m Doing Numbers On… Peloton? One Indie Artist Discovers Peloton Pays 10 Times Better Than Spotify The streaming platform that pays the most to artists isn’t Spotify or Apple Music—it’s Peloton. Good luck getting the same volume as major DSPs, but the per stream payout rate means even indie artists see more cash in their royalty payments from the exercise company (Digital Music News).
Virtual Artist Hatsune Miku to Headline Fortnite Festival — Following Human Headliners The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Metallica, Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, and Karol GOne of the most anticipated Fortnite collaborations for longtime netizens has finally hit the game: virtual musical artist Hatsune Miku is the headliner for Fortnite Festival Season 7. The Vocaloid superstar now has a skin, emotes, music packs, and more available in Fortnite (Digital Music News).
FireAid L.A. Benefit Concert Unveils Venue Lineups, Waives Service FeesPop acts such as Olivia Rodrigo, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry will perform at Intuit Dome, while Kia Forum will host acts such as Stevie Nicks, Green Day, and No Doubt (Rolling Stone).
Singer Jon Batiste's First-Ever Jazz Club Debuts at Baha Mar in the BahamasThe Bahamas’ largest resort Baha Mar has been on a mission to wrap local arts and culture into guest experiences—and on Friday it debuted its first celebrity partnership towards that effort with the opening of Jon Batiste’s Jazz Club at Baha Mar (Condé Nast).
Clios, BMG Party, Downtown Brunch CanceledThe list of L.A. fire-related cancellations continues to grow, with announcements that the Clio Music Awards , BMG pre-Grammy party and Downtown Music annual Grammy brunch have all been called off (HITS Daily).
Pharrell Williams kicks off Paris Fashion Week with Louis Vuitton streetwear showThe brand’s creative director, 51, designed the collection with his old friend and artistic director of Kenzo, Nigo. Williams had in fact advised Louis Vuitton to hire Nigo as creative director of Louis Vuitton back in 2023, before the French fashion house offered it to the musician himself, instead (The Industry).
BYTES
On this special episode of the YMC podcast, your host Jay Gilbert chats with Jesse Kirshbaum of the Nue Agency and Beats + Bytes on the new 2024 Trend Report.
He’s not just selling music. He’s creating movements. Here’s how...
Tyler The Creator is a rather animated emcee. However, one illustrator and animator are taking this up a notch. Ali Graham, the mind behind a viral Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us” game, has used Tyler The Creator as his latest muse (Uproxx).
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This week's newsletter was carefully curated by the Nue Agency staff and our editor Rachel Meisner If you think we missed something this week or have any suggestions/comments for next week's newsletter, let us know!