2025: THE YEAR THE MUSIC PLAYED!It's no secret that the music scene and entire entertainment industry as a whole has been on its knees over the past few years. Whether that be the result of a global pandemic smiting absolutely everything and everyone in its path, financial funding seemingly more difficult than drawing blood from a stone, or total juggernauts of major record labels struggling to keep up with the surge of independent pursuits, it's safe to say that the music scene has been a dry, arid landscape in contrast to the bright, sparkly "poptimist" utopia of the 2010's. That was until the Music Gods spiked the water with a little something to get the creative juices flowing and provide a much needed boot up the backside for artists and labels across the board (let's pretend it's nothing to do with providing forms of escapism from abysmal governing on all sides of the pond). 2025 appears to be the year the music played once again. A mere quarter of the way in and we have been treated to not just more output than previous years combined, but some of the most surprising, inspiring and iconic returns to form we have ever seen.
We have seen numerous albums and EPs dropping from the tail end of 2024 and into this glorious new year. Once more, every single project has been equally satisfying as the next for a varying degree of reasons. From the cornerstone of an artist's imperial phase, long-delayed albums finally seeing the light of day, to the most rewarding musical comebacks, 2025 has had it all covered thus far. Many other exciting projects have also been teased and announced for the months ahead. If the run from January to April is anything to go by, next years award shows are going to be VERY tough calls but perhaps the most enthralling and competitive in years.
Speaking of, the
UMA returned for its second annual show and was a ratings success as anticipated. The event perfectly encapsulated the buzz and excitement currently pulsing through the industry right now. Featuring a slew of the biggest stars and budding new artists ready to pop off and dominate, there was something for everybody and, unlike some other award ceremonies over the years, it was the music and goodwill that done the talking. Zero need for any sort of controversy or publicity stunts. A night of great artists simply being great artists was what prevailed. Many of the big winners of the night appear in this article and, while having a brilliant 2024, are set to have an even bigger year ahead if the last few months are anything to go by.
You know that there is a shift in the universe when
Mercedes drops all of her miscellaneous side projects, hustles, charity work and saintly activities in order to return to music. Once poised to be a breakout pop star back in the early 2010's, Mercedes' music career took an unexpected halt just as it was lifting off the ground. A series of contractual complications left her in record label limbo for numerous years and, after her emancipation, the diva decided to play the long game when it came to her rebrand and return. Building an online image as a meme-queen, often in on the most viral jokes whilst looking $1,000,000 at the same time, Mercedes built a brand and massive online following with many not realising she was ACTUALLY a musician first. With the huge audience built but with seemingly zero expectations in regards to her musical output, Mercedes whipped out the punk-pop, new wave audio assault that is
"No Guts, No Glory". An even smarter move was bringing on board
Riley Hamilton for his first solo release outside of Weekend. The unexpected duo catapulted to the top of the charts and earned both their first #1s respectively.
On the subject of Hamilton,
Weekend also show no signs of slowing down as they enter their 14th year together as a unit. The fabulous five-piece performed a record-breaking, internet-shattering, one-night-only concert at London's Wembley Arena back in March in lieu of an actual tour (sad face!). The quintet experienced a glorious return last year with critically acclaimed single
"Violent Devotion" topping the charts and are set to continue their streak of 80's inspired goodies with new single
"We Made It" now available to pre-save. While no album announcement has been formally made, a full body of work is most likely to join the ranks of 2025 releases by some point this summer.
Weekend's opening act and rapidly rising superstar in his own right
Jack Dunn is also set to have a jam-packed year ahead. Winning big at the UMA as well as earning THREE consecutive #1 hits to his name already, Dunn has all the makings of a modern day legend. Again, while no album or EP has been officially announced, the star performed several of his unreleased tracks during his opening slot at Wembley, indicating that there is a wealth of material waiting to go.
Industry linchpin
Ryan Ross Hernandez treated us all to the dulcet sounds of his eighth studio album,
"Late Fragment" at the tail-end of last year. As expected, the record was a runaway success on the Hot 20 Albums Chart but that hasn't allowed Hernandez to grow comfortable. Not only has RRH since gone on to break a chart record (not just the male act but THEE act with the most #1 singles overall), the musical God has only gone and announced his ninth album as well! Pencilled in for a July 11 released,
"Definition of Home" is a concept album surrounding a sense of security and belonging. It arrives swiftly after his last effort and the era is set to kickstart in just over a week with its lead single already being teased for an April 25 drop.
Hernandez's partner in crime
Ellie-Grace Summers has also gotten off to a not-too-shabby start. The country-pop icon finally dropped her long-awaited third studio album
"Mantra" in February. It followed on a whopping 13 years after her last album release and was received as warmly as you would expect for the industry sweetheart. Summers vowed that fans would "never" have to wait that long for another project and even hinted that her next musical output could be coming sooner than we think. Just like her boyfriend, are we in for a double EG whammy this year?
The theme of "unfinished business" is a strong one this year, with many artists reviving projects that were once seen as dead in the water or suffering from an eternal stop-start-stop campaign.
Andrea finally released her infamous
"Southern Belle" record as a way of wiping the slate clean for her forthcoming third studio album. Released with no prior warning or following promotion, Andrea randomly dropped the album as a "thank you" to fans...and earned herself a #1 record into the bargain!
Lincoln assaulted the charts once again with another sugar-rush of a track entitled
"Overdrive", suggesting that we may still get that elusive album yet! Pop diva
Tika Mays also reignited her third studio album campaign with the release of
"Star", a sassy, attitude packed tour de force that further proves her artistic growth, confidence and well-earned space among the pop elite.
Another surprise career revival is that of
Barbie Doll. The quirky, alternative-pop star dropped comeback smash
"FREEDOM" literally out of nowhere and climbed to the top spot like nobody's business. Despite several years past her initial rise to stardom and becoming the industry's shiny new plaything, Barbie's latest releases have proved more successful, taking her to the summit of the charts. Could we be seeing a new career peak for the singer this year?
Record breaking boyband,
Midnight20, the first Korean all-male group to earn a #1 on the Hot 20 Albums Chart also returned after a killer UMA performance. The incredibly infectious
"Yes or No" was the first taster of their hotly anticipated forthcoming full-length album. The biggest girl group of the moment
BabyCrush are also set to release their second studio album hot off the back of their chart-topping lead single,
"Between the Sheets".
Kicking off that trend of musical comebacks, however, was
Amy-Jayne in the very last week of 2024. Perhaps it was her new year's wish to inspire everyone else to get off their arses and drop projects? If it was, it certainly worked! Amy-Jayne's long-awaited third set came in the form of
"Evolution" a more mature, experimental yet streamlined project in comparison to the star's previous efforts. Peaking at #2, the album saw Amy-Jayne return to the upper regions of the charts and prove her staying power after all this time. Things may be winding down for the star, however, as she just recently announced her pregnancy. The singer is expecting a child with someone who we simply couldn't publish this article without mentioning.
Yes,
Jadyn Ghalen. The rap and hip-hop star has already made waves over the years as part of critically acclaimed rap trio Orion as well as racking up momentum with his debut solo EP
"Mentality Monster". All that and not to mention his natural knack for some good old-fashioned top tier celebrity controversy and publicity. Ghalen is a superstar at the precipice of his explosion. The rapper has already secured numerous #1 hits over the last few months, with others setting up camp in the Top 3 as well as a guest feature on Layla's new single about to hit radio. His full-length debut album is set to drop this year and unleash the full potential of Ghalen's star upon the world.
Also dominating the hip-hop-sphere has been two industry giants teaming up in the form of
Kara Romero and
Younghood. Their
"The Bedroom Sessions Vol.I" EP does exactly what it says on the tin. Filled with intimate, bedroom rompers that tackle all passionate aspects of a fiery relationship from the toxicity to the, er, rumpy-pumpy, the natural chemistry and charisma between the pairing has made this project a standout. As the title hints at, we could even be treated to a follow-up instalment soon. For now, the exquisite first volume will have to suffice which is more than alright with us.
Over on the opposite side of the pond,
Deneil has singlehandedly set the UK rap scene alight with his surprise musical return. His comeback track
"Khandon" raced to the top of the charts and it felt like he never left us for FIVE. LONG. YEARS. Although Khan is keeping his cards close to his chest about whether or not we will be receiving an actual body of work this year, the stupidly handsome rap star has disclosed that he has "more songs to come" so there's that.
On the pop side of the coin, one little lady appears to be on a mission to launch into the stratosphere.
Layla dropped her second studio album
"The Human Experience" at the beginning of the year following a slew of chart-topping singles preceding the project last year. Sanchez is clearly on the "main pop girl" train, not only pulling in huge numbers and critical acclaim, but getting her face out there wherever possible. From guest appearances, to opening and closing the UMA, to continuously churning out the singles campaign, Layla shows no sign of letting up. The Miami diva has also alluded to a potential tour so watch this space!
It's not all about comebacks and already established artists, however. This year has already ushered in some new faces that look as if they're here for the long haul. The eclectic, art wave inspired band
Scream Team got off to a screaming start (see what we did there?), debuting atop the Hot 20 Singles Chart with their first ever release, the chaotically brilliant
"They Stole My Car". Their freshman studio album,
"Modernist Panic!" swiftly followed to similar chart success. Budding songstress
Harlow Reed came out swinging with her dark, dramatic and cinematic pop sound, earning a Top 5 single and album to her name already. Former 5th Avenue member
Rico Love also stepped out on his own, comfortably wedging himself in the Top 10 with his very first release,
"Mr. Loverman". Judging by the song's content and words from the man himself, it looks as though the aptly titled Mr. Love will be treating us to a very raunchy affair this year.
More recently, upcoming R&B star
Sierra Roe just nabbed her first ever #1 single with the effortlessly cool
"Kill or Compete". Topping Chart Heat and earning the Billy Khan seal of approval off the back of one single, it's evident that Ms. Roe is an act we'll be hearing a lot more from in the future.
Anastacia Jarvez is another newcomer eyeing up a place in the pop upper echelon with the release of her insanely catchy debut single
"Made Your Bed" which proves she has the gusto, talent and drive to survive on more than name recognition alone.
Even as I type up this article, there are multiple pots and pans bubbling and ready to pop off, making this list instantly outdated. THEE
Kidd Amaze is reportedly working on a brand new album. Sad news is, streets are saying that it is set to be his final project. We'll happily take the bitter with the sweet, however, as we're sure he's wanting to go out with a total bang. Pop icon
Radio Vine is heavily teasing her imminent return, re-signing to former label Studio 60 Records which is perhaps symbolic of her attempt to bring back the glory days. We can only hope! Multi-cultural six-piece girl-group
GLOW have already made waves across social media before humming a single syllable, signing to Royale Vices & Virtues ahead of their first release.
Milian appears to be gearing up for a return to music after a brief yet promising attempt back in 2021.
Malik Jarvez recently revealed the cover art for his second studio album,
"Memoirs From Puerto Rico", an artist who has truly found his sound and lane, and an album that is on track to be a pivotal moment is his career. BYS member
KYLE is also reportedly set to drop his long-awaited debut solo album after experiencing great success with his previous singles alongside a smidge of controversy.
On the more alternative leaning side of things,
Mariko is supposedly earmarked for a musical comeback. The pocket-sized songstress who is a master at what I can only describe as Bubblegum Death Rock has never truly stepped away from music, consistently touring and performing over the years but has been shy in terms of new output for a while. It seems as though that is all about to change shortly. Last but far from least, the thought-to-be-dormant alternative rock giants
Riot! In The Boulevard casually broke social media as they reignited their accounts and hinted towards a possible reunion tour for the anniversary of their acclaimed
"Boycott Love" album. Perhaps the musical bug of 2025 has gotten to them and Amy, Adam and Jason have realised that the world needs some Riot! more than ever? New music may be an incredibly long shot but in the words of Ellie-Grace Summers, it's the hope that keeps us here.
- Nick Aaronholt 