As we usher in 2025, the music world stands poised on the brink of another transformative year. From groundbreaking new releases to thrilling live performances, this year promises to captivate fans across genres. The interplay of tradition and innovation continues to shape music’s landscape, and artists across all genres are already setting the stage for what could be a defining year.

In jazz, 2025 is shaping to be a banner year for seasoned legends and emerging voices. Blue Note Records continues its Tone Poet Series, reissuing some classic albums on vinyl for the first time. ECM, a jazz and classical music leader, will also continue to release fascinating new releases from contemporary artists beside its award-winning audiophile vinyl-reissue Luminessence series. I’m also excited to see where International Anthem takes us this year - hoping for new music from Makaya McCraven and his respected collective. Meanwhile, rising stars like Samara Joy and Brandon Lewis are set to push the genre’s boundaries further, infusing contemporary themes into their works. Jazz Is Dead, led by Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest), digs into their third series, collaborating with jazz and world music legends. From Montreal to Montreux, jazz festivals worldwide are also promising stellar lineups, focusing on cross-genre collaborations that reflect jazz’s ever-evolving identity.
International Anthem’s first release of 2025 comes from Damon Locks and arrives on January 31, 2025. Here’s a preview…
Indie pop and its many offshoot subgenres continue to surprise us with upcoming new releases from FKA Twigs, Sharon Van Etten, Panda Bear, Lana Del Rey, Carseat Headrest, LCD Soundsystem, and iconic rock bands Foo Fighters and U2, also teasing new releases. In contrast, newer acts such as Wet Leg and Manéskin continue to energize younger audiences, building off their debut releases. A major trend to watch in 2025 is the resurgence of concept albums, with several artists hinting at ambitious projects blending narrative storytelling and intricate production, like Coheed and Cambria, who have something scheduled for later this year. Soul and R&B also continue to evolve, with artists like Orion Sun, Pale Jay, and Allysah Joy breaking through last year—what will we see in 2025?
Rock festivals like Coachella, Glastonbury, Tomorrowland, Bonaroo, Lollapalooza, and even Osheaga at Parc-Jean-Drapeau in Montréal promise to push the envelope over the next 12 months. Electronic music is also poised to expand its horizons even further. 2025 will likely see the rise of AI-assisted composition, with artists experimenting with cutting-edge tools to craft immersive soundscapes. Will there be controversy?
As the year unfolds, the soundtracks to our lives will undoubtedly reflect the creativity and passion of artists pushing the boundaries of what music can achieve. Whether buying new albums, streaming from your favorite platform, attending live shows, or discovering rising artists, music enthusiasts are excited about what’s to come. I’m definitely excited, are you?
Wrap up 2024 with the 67th Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 2, 2025. See the complete nominee list here.
🎉 Happy New Year. - JB