What are the top music trends of 2025?

If you are an artist, this is a question. You’re always asking yourself at the beginning of the year.

What are listeners looking for? Where are they consuming music and what can you do to reach as many of them as possible?

As a Christian artist, it can be challenging to understand how secular trends apply to you. Can you take something the world is looking for, to reach others for Christ?

And how do you do it in a matter that is honoring to God and your values?

Luckily, for you, we have combed the top music trends of this year to give you a comprehensive look at what’s coming down the pike. And also how to apply it in a way that will take your Christian music to the next level.

If you are ready to take on 2025 with a bang, keep reading.

What are the top music trends of 2025?

1. AI will completely change how music is made in 2025. Now, don’t roll your eyes—I know what you’re thinking: artists who use AI must lack talent or maybe even be lazy. But hear me out. Just like using ChatGPT as a tool to enhance writing, AI-driven music tools—like Spotify’s new AI DJ—can amplify an artist’s creativity rather than replace it. Take “spawning,” a technique coined by Holly Herndon, where you train an AI to analyze the sonic properties of a sound and generate entirely new, complementary sounds. The possibilities are truly endless. Not only does this keep the sound consistent, but it also makes it fresh and unexpected. As new music AI tools hit the market in 2025, don’t be so quick to dismiss them. Instead, see them as an opportunity to push creative boundaries, innovate, and experiment in ways you never thought possible. The future of music is evolving—are you ready?
2. The 2000s are coming back. You may have noticed some of this at the mall where bellbottoms and chokers fill the racks and the sound of boy bands and pop rock filters through the speakers of every store. Why is this you may ask? The last eight years have been tumultuous, filled with political strife and a life-altering pandemic. The early 2000s are the closest time we can remember a carefree existence- one that many of us long for. Big secular artists are capitalizing on the nostalgic craving and tapping into bubbly upbeat sounds in hopes of creating a dopamine-filled connection with their fans. While hip-hop and pop are very different sonically, there is something wonderful about reviving the sound we all grew up loving. If you still have them, it’s not too late to dust off some of those old CDs for inspiration.
3. Live event events are going to be big in 2025. According to Fast Company, generation Z is poised to shell out some big bucks on live events. 2024 saw some of CHH‘s biggest names selling out venues throughout the US. Miles Minnick packed out the Novo in LA. nobody had a wildly successful tour, and in January, Alex Jean sold out some of his locations within 24 hours. People are hungry for good live music, so it’s time to hit the events, whether you are a prominent streaming artist or just starting out. Contact event planners coming to your town to see if they need local opening talent. Hit up a smaller venues that need wholesome entertainment, (this is a great way to get some face-to-face with people encountering music for the first time), and collaborate with other artists within your area to maximize exposure and expand your listener base.
4. Spatial music may be your secret get. It’s challenging for many artists nowadays to break through, so finding new ways to make your craft stand out is worth exploring. Secular artists like Billie Eilish are leaning into 3-D sound mapping and spatial audio to create an immersive sonic adventure for their listeners. While Billy’s sound is notably a departure from Christian hip-hop, it would be interesting to use this in the layering within a song. Take, for example, an artist like Jeremiah Bligen, who has a vibrant depth to his music. Not only are there hip-hop beats in his tracks, but there are also elements of rock, the metal of the guitar coming to the forefront at unexpected times. Using spatial audio could take similar songs with intricate elements to a new level. If you’re an artist who likes to use overlapping complementary sounds, this could turn your 2025 around.
5. Sonic branding will open a new frontier. If you are not familiar with this term, you are about to be; think of the iconic sound that follows the N after you open up the Netflix app, dum-dum. That is sonic branding in action. Just like music licensing and producer tags, sonic branding is the 2025 equivalent of a powerful tool to get your music to a broader audience. According to Envato’s creative Director, Luke Hawkins, sonic branding “allows brands to create something catchy and memorable, and make people feel something.” Big brands are constantly on the lookout for creative talent who can craft unique auditory experiences for their audience, and that’s where you come in. Being an artist means being a master craftsman capable of shaping sounds to evoke emotions and convey messages through music! Start playing around with sound effects tools like Envato, and use your creativity to develop sonic branding that will truly get you noticed in this competitive industry.
6. Genre blending will be the defining trend of 2025. Last year marked the beginning of some truly fascinating collaborations across the music industry, with Christian and secular artists teaming up—much to the delight of some and the dismay of others. While many of these collaborations stayed within closely related genres, 2025 is shaping up to be the year where opposites attract. Take Jelly Roll, for example—he’s already worked with Machine Gun Kelly and Brandon Lake, exposing his music to entirely new audiences that might never have discovered him otherwise. And that’s just one case. Christian music is vast, spanning rock, EDM, hip-hop, and country, with countless artists eager to collaborate and reach fresh listeners. So start exploring every corner of Christian music, find an artist whose style resonates with you, and be intentional—support them, engage with their work, and, if possible, collaborate to create something truly groundbreaking.

Be Bold 2025

Being aware of music trends in 2025 can help you get the breakthrough you’ve been looking for and position yourself for greater impact in the industry.

The world is hungry to hear the good news that has been placed in your heart to share—this applies to both believers seeking encouragement and non-believers searching for truth.
By understanding what your audience is actively looking for, you can use the latest tools and strategies to ensure your music is easier to discover and share.

Whether it’s leveraging AI to amplify your creative skills, experimenting with 3-D sound mapping to create immersive sonic experiences, or tapping into new social media trends, 2025 is shaping up to be the year of the Christian hip-hop Renaissance.

So embrace these powerful tools and make this the year you boldly profess the love of Christ through your music in new and innovative ways.

What will you try first?

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