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2020s in music

For music from a year in the 2020s, go to 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

This article describes trends in popular music in the 2020s.


The beginning of the 2020s decade was a difficult time for the music industry, as the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in widespread concert cancellations due to risks of mass infection. However, by mid-2023, the music Industry recorded its highest annual revenue of all time ($8.4 billion), propelled by exponential growth of streaming subscriptions. Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Olivia Rodrigo, the Weeknd, Harry Styles and Doja Cat have been some of the leading music artists of the 2020s so far.

Overview[edit]

Impact of COVID-19[edit]

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation or postponement of numerous music-related events scheduled to take place in the early 2020s, including major tours, festivals, and television appearances. Due to the restrictions, many artists conducted virtual experiences as an alternative to live events (e.g. Dua Lipa's Studio 2054 and Taylor Swift's Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions).[1] The COVID-19 pandemic has also resorted artists to postponements or rescheduling of major tours to at least a year or two from their initially scheduled tour dates, examples including The Stadium Tour (co-headlined by Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard), Ozzy Osbourne's headlining tour No More Tours II and Rage Against the Machine's reunion tour.[2][3][4] 2020s also marked the massive rise of genreless music and fragmentation of music thanks to COVID-19 lockdowns for isolation and loneliness, and the use of internet, streaming media, TikTok with its algorithm, playlists and unlimited access.

Impact of social media on chart success[edit]

Social media platforms such as TikTok have greatly influenced the musical landscape of the 2020s. For Gen Z and Gen Alpha, TikTok served as a musical taste maker because of the app's utilization of music and short form video content. The platform's emphasis on user-generated content also fostered a participatory culture where listeners became active participants in shaping musical trends. From choreographed dance routines to comedic skits and lip-syncing challenges, TikTok encouraged users to engage with songs by producing video content, effectively turning music consumption into a form of entertainment in itself. This symbiotic relationship between music and user-generated content fueled a feedback loop of virality, perpetuating the cycle of discovery and amplification. Furthermore, TikTok served as a powerful marketing tool for established artists seeking to maintain relevance in an increasingly fragmented media landscape. Major labels and artists quickly recognized the platform's potential to amplify their reach and connect with younger audiences.


Strategic collaborations with popular TikTok creators, sponsored hashtag challenges, and the use of licensed music in viral videos became integral components of contemporary music marketing strategies. The TikTok Billboard chart was created in September 2023 to meet the demand for a Viral Audios from the platform.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

Motivated by early 1970s and synth pop music, albums such as Harry Styles' Harry's House and Swift's Midnights drew influences from this era. Their respective lead singles "As It Was" and "Anti-Hero", both of which incorporated vintage synthesizers, were met with critical acclaim and instant commercial success.[54] "As It Was" remained at number-one for 15 non-consecutive weeks on the Hot 100, becoming the longest-reigning solo song in history.[55] Swift became the first artist ever to occupy the Hot 100's entire top 10 simultaneously with "Anti-Hero" at number-one.[56] Harry's House and Midnights went on to win both Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 65th and 66th Annual Grammy Awards, respectively.[57][58][59]

experimental

Influenced by the 1980s retro musical elements, Dua Lipa, , and The Weeknd incorporated heavy disco, funk, and synth-pop influences in their works such as Future Nostalgia, Special, and After Hours, respectively; all albums were met with commercial and critical acclaim.[60][61] Lipa's singles "Don't Start Now" and "Levitating", Lizzo's "About Damn Time", and the Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" and "Save Your Tears" were commercially successful.[62][63] "Blinding Lights" went on to become the biggest Billboard Hot 100 song of all time, spending 90 weeks on the chart—the most for any song.[64] Future Nostalgia won Best Pop Vocal Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.[65] "About Damn Time" went on to win Record of the Year at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.[66]

Lizzo

Swift's of her fifth studio album, 1989 (Taylor's Version), was released in October 2023. The original album was inspired heavily by 1980s synth pop, and the re-record scored the highest first-week sales of 2023.[67]

re-recording

' seventh studio album, Plastic Hearts, was credited as a front-runner to the resurgence of pop-rock music, especially that of the 1970s-1980s.[68] Critics claimed her transition from pop music to rock brought forth a nostalgic feel, one that will seemingly become a trend this decade.[69] Her eighth studio album, Endless Summer Vacation, was preceded by the single, "Flowers", which was met with instant commercial success, becoming the fastest song to reach 100 million streams on Spotify—within a week.[70]

Miley Cyrus

's song "Running Up That Hill", which was actually released in the 1980s, gained a massive following after having a pivotal role in the fourth season of Stranger Things.[71] Metallica's 1986 single "Master of Puppets" also saw a revival because of its inclusion in the show.

Kate Bush

's Chromatica and Beyoncé's Renaissance sought to recreate 1990s dance and house music styles. Gaga's "Rain on Me" and Beyoncé's "Break My Soul" reached the top spot on the Hot 100 chart.[72][73][74][75] Renaissance won Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, which ultimately named Beyoncé as the recipient of the most Grammy Awards of all time.[76] Ariana Grande's Positions used heavy 1990s R&B and pop elements, crediting samples from popular artists from that decade, such as Aaliyah.[77]

Lady Gaga

With its nostalgic presence for younger audiences, sounds from the early 2000s resurge into today's music with elements of , post-punk, and post-grunge.[78]

indie rock

2010s in music