(Hypebot) – 2024 wasn’t just about one big summer hit. It was the summer of songs. See how the way we think about summer music has changed.
by Tatiana Chirisano of MIDiA Research
Over the past few years, MIDiA has Lack of “songs of summer”There used to be one undisputed hit song every summer, like “One Dance” in 2016 or “Despacito” in 2017. But as music listening has become more fragmented and less Western-centric, what was once one hit song for everyone has turned into many hit songs for individuals and scenes, few of which lasted for a season, let alone a month.
This summer is notable because music has underpinned every major event in pop culture. Of course, the most ubiquitous is “BRAT Summer”However, coming in second place by a small margin was Explosive rap battle At one point in May, you could walk down a block in Brooklyn with Lamar’s “Not Like Us” blaring from speakers, and the song was also played in July’s Copa America semifinal, where Argentina won. Used to poke fun at Drake He withdrew from the Olympics after losing a bet against his native Canada. The “summer of sport” continued at the Paris Olympics, where Lady Gaga and Celine Dion performed at a lavish opening ceremony, Snoop Dogg became a surprise star commentator, breakdancer Ray Gunn made waves online, and several competitors celebrated their victories by dancing to Charlie XCX’s “Apple.” Meanwhile, in the world of American politics, the Kamala Harris campaign Painted in BRAT green and Sold replica hats from Chapel LawnFans made memes of Harris’ “coconut tree” speech, Remix a pop songTinashe’s “Nasty” is also one of the most popular songs on TikTok, and not only the original but also fan-made remixes are popular.
“Wouldn’t that be a better outcome?”
There may not have been One This summer wasn’t just the song of the summer, it was the summer of songs. And what could be better? This summer, artists are sharing these moments, not just enjoying fleeting radio hits, but positioning themselves in broader pop culture history.
Feature Report: Independent Label Survey Volume Game Play This report presents data from the MIDiA Research Independent Record Label Survey for 2023. The survey was conducted over a three-month period in the first half of 2023, ending in May 2023, with a sample size of 142. Topics include…Learn more
Despite Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and Dua Lipa releasing albums in the spring, the veteran global superstars were absent from the summer pop culture moments. Suffice to say, the world seems to have stopped revolving around Taylor Swift. This doesn’t mean these artists were badly successful, just that their success was largely confined to streaming platforms (or, in Swift’s case, while on tour). Music moments used to happen in consumption spaces like radio and music festivals. But more recently, they have happened more often on social media and in other entertainment realms, and especially this summer in sports. Song streaming is a symptom of these moments, but not a cause. Again, This is a branching phenomenon..
“A handful of superstars and big hitters have been replaced by a group of mid-level stars.”
The good news is that music has proven its ability to remain a powerful cultural force even in an attention-scarce and increasingly fragmented world. But how that influence is shaped has fundamentally changed. A handful of superstars and hit songs have been replaced by a group of mid-level stars and their songs. Music has become increasingly popular as the soundtrack to iconic pop culture moments. BeyondMusic. Streaming services benefit from these moments, but it’s not the space they operate in.
Get the latest entertainment research and insights delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up with our newsletter. Click here to subscribe.
