Splice, the global music creation platform, has partnered with MIDiA Research, a leader in music and entertainment analytics, to unveil their latest report, “Sounds of 2025”. The report provides a comprehensive glimpse into how music trends from 2024 are already shaping the soundscape of 2025. From emerging genres to the rising influence of global cities, the findings reveal a fascinating evolution in music creation and consumption.
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Genre Blending Takes Center Stage
One of the standout revelations from the report is the meteoric rise of pluggnb, a genre that blends the trap subgenre plugg with ‘90s R&B and gospel harmonies. Downloads of pluggnb samples on Splice skyrocketed by 342.8% in 2024, driven by its popularity on platforms like TikTok. The genre has also gained traction globally, with K-pop acts such as LE SSERAFIM and ILLIT incorporating its sound. This trend signifies how genre fusion and cultural exchange will define mainstream music in the coming year.
Other genres expected to dominate include Jersey club, known for its high-energy hip-hop and house fusion, and rage, an aggressive offshoot of trap that is steadily gaining traction amongst hip-hop production. Meanwhile, melodic house and techno are carving out a space in dance music with their atmospheric, cinematic sound, while Afro House continues to highlight the impact of the Global South on music.
Global Influence on the Rise
The report highlights the growing importance of international music hubs. While Los Angeles and New York still lead in sample downloads—30.7 million and 15.2 million, respectively—cities like Sydney, Tokyo, Berlin, and São Paulo are quickly catching up. Berlin, for instance, has become a surprising hotspot for Jersey club, while São Paulo is emerging as the epicenter for drift phonk, a high-energy evolution of the phonk genre.
South Africa continues to cement its influence on the global music stage, with Johannesburg emerging as a hub for Afro House’s evolution, shaping international rhythms. These trends reflect a decentralisation of music production, with non-Western cities increasingly setting the tone for global creativity.
Shaping Tomorrow’s Music
Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava commented on the findings, noting, “Splice is uniquely positioned to see the sounds that are driving music production globally. This report gives us a sense of how music producers are bending and blending genres in real time and just what genres and regions will define what we hear in 2025 and beyond.”
Mark Mulligan, Managing Director of MIDiA Research, echoed this sentiment, adding, “The music industry is always trying to get ahead of trends, but there is perhaps no more forward-looking cultural trend than sample usage. The sounds that producers use to create today give us a window not only into the genres that will be big tomorrow but also early indications of entirely new genres that will emerge from the process of mixing samples across styles and cultures. The genres that stand out in this report also underline wider trends: the growing importance of scenes and fan remixing in shaping the sounds of the future.”
Key Genres to Watch in 2025
Here’s a closer look at the genres highlighted in the “Sounds of 2025“ report:
- Pluggnb: A fusion of trap, R&B, and gospel, set to break into the mainstream with its TikTok-driven popularity.
- Jersey club: A hip-hop and house combination which is set to become a global phenomenon fueled by artists like UNIIQU3, with Berlin leading its European rise.
- Rage: A harder, trap-like experimental take on hip-hop gaining momentum through artists like JELEEL!
- Melodic House and Techno: Subgenres of electronic music defined by their cinematic, emotional resonance.
- Afro House: A rhythmic blend of African influences and house music that continues to soar internationally.
- Drift Phonk: Brazil’s high-octane take on phonk, blending European production styles with Latin American influences.
Music Capitals of the Future
The report highlights a shift in the global music landscape, where emerging cities are challenging traditional powerhouses like Los Angeles. These rising music hubs are shaping fresh trends and influencing the future of music production worldwide:
- Los Angeles: K-pop meets underground hip-hop
Los Angeles remains Splice’s top city by annual downloads, solidifying its position as a global music capital. K-pop and pluggnb are driving its explosive growth, with demand for K-pop samples rising by an impressive 516% and pluggnb by 290%. The merging of genres is fueling innovation, as seen in ILLIT’s single “Magnetic,” which blends underground hip-hop sounds like pluggnb and rage with K-pop’s polished production, breaking streaming records in the process. This fusion is creating a dynamic cultural exchange, cementing Los Angeles as the epicentre of global music innovation. - São Paulo: Brazil leads the phonk wave
São Paulo has emerged as the driving force behind drift phonk’s meteoric rise. The genre, rooted in Memphis rap, has been redefined in Brazil, blending local influences with its signature high-octane style. International producers, like Norway’s Slowboy, are increasingly incorporating Brazilian elements into their tracks, while local artists such as Mc Gw are pushing the genre to new heights. Over the past year, drift phonk has experienced a fivefold growth in São Paulo, making it a global hotspot for this booming genre. - Berlin: Jersey club goes mainstream
Known for its cutting-edge electronic music scene, Berlin is now embracing Jersey club, a genre originally born in Newark. Downloads for Jersey club samples on Splice have surged by 452%, driven by the genre’s popularity on TikTok, where choreographed dances have introduced it to a broader audience. Berlin-based DJs like Berlin Disaster, CEYDAKISS, and visiting artists such as UNIIQU3 are blending its infectious beats into the city’s club scene, proving that Berlin remains at the forefront of global music experimentation. - Johannesburg: Afro House from the source
Johannesburg continues to establish itself as a global leader in Afro House, a genre deeply rooted in South Africa’s kwaito music. Downloads for Afro House samples have increased by 203%, reflecting the city’s role as a creative hub. Local DJs like Desiree and Jazzuelle are evolving the genre with fresh sounds, while events like Boiler Room parties showcase its vibrancy to an international audience. Johannesburg’s influence extends beyond the city, paving the way for Afro House artists across Africa to find global success. - Sydney: Australia’s dance music revolution
Sydney is quickly becoming a key player in the global dance music scene, with genre downloads for big room and melodic house up by 190%. As the third-largest dance music market in the world, Australia is home to superfans who are driving this growth. Artists like Cyril and FISHER are making waves internationally, with both breaking into Spotify’s top 500. With the highest percentage of monthly listeners per capita, Australia’s love for dance music is shaping the global scene and cementing Sydney’s role as a music capital of the future.
These five cities represent the evolving geography of music production, where innovation and cultural exchange are creating new trends that resonate globally.
A Glimpse into Music’s Future
“Sounds of 2025” showcases how genre innovation, cultural exchange, and technology are reshaping music. With platforms like Splice enabling creators worldwide, the music of tomorrow promises to be more diverse, experimental, and globally connected than ever before.
For anyone curious about where music is headed, you can read this report by clicking here. It offers an exciting preview of what we can expect to hear in 2025 and beyond. You can even get the full report from MIDiA which contains a total of 768 words by clicking here.