Get all seven predictions in the third annual report: Music Trends. To stay on top of your game in a shifting landscape, you need a firm grip on the music trends that will shift the landscape in But with major political changes coming in , fans may be looking to their favorite artists to take a stance. Matthew Morgan, the co-founder of Afropunk, believes fans will look to live music as an opportunity to make sense of the world around them. Click To Tweet.

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W hile brought us music from pop and rap heavyweights like Taylor Swift , Ed Sheeran and Kendrick Lamar, presents a wide-open field for upstarts and fresh sounds. The music world is turning increasingly to new metrics to quantify success: streaming numbers, social media popularity and global attention are more important than ever. And audiences, in turn, are seeking artists that speak to them on a more personal level. The past few years saw plenty of dancehall and Caribbean rhythms in pop and electronic music, but the rise—and return—of artists like Shakira, Jennifer Lopez and Maluma indicate that the Spanish-language takeover is picking up steam. Write to Raisa Bruner at raisa. By Raisa Bruner. Get The Brief.
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The new year has started and everyone is excited about the major releases that the music scene had announced back in We gathered together some predictions for new trends that the music world will have in store for us this year…. Londoner singer Beatie Wolfe, who captivates us with her romantic lyrics and sound, used new distribution methods that led to cooperations with tech communities and getting a TED platform, as well as Wired column inches. While American hip-hop artists always represented the biggest in their category, always going viral with their tracks, UK artists, such as Grime, who just got his visa for the US, as well as Stormzy and AJ Tracey are making their way up to the top. Kanye West put Mercury Price winner Skepta on his speed-dial, while Drake collaborates with London-based rapper Dave for his latest mixtape. While since now we always used to see adverts on Youtube and our favourite news portals as a more annoying side-effect of using the internet, in , new ways of communicating a brand or product will go in charge. In regard to the huge political events of , the music world will fill the new year with rebellion and anti-statements. Through the presidential election in the US, as well as through Brexit, new communities were built, sharing the same political views. While pop stars always started their careers at a quite young age, they are building up their talents at even younger ages now. So does The Lemon Twigs, for example, have a band member that is merely 14 years old.
In a time defined by unpredictability, artists stepped up with their own expressions, embracing the beauty of life and protesting its injustices. Across more than a dozen features, Pitchfork looks at the moments that defined the year—the best albums and songs, along with the most emotional live sets, the sharpest literature, the savviest TV syncs. These are the best of the best. December 12 December 11 December 29