2024 was a massive year for music, but 2025 will see a new slew of musicians taking over the industry and defining the year.Last year was the year of pop musicand artists who previously didn’t get much recognition. Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Charli XCX had been releasing music for years before seeing mainstream success. The industry’s biggest stars also made their mark, with Beyoncé’sCowboy CarterandTaylor Swift’sThe Tortured Poets Departmenttaking over the charts. Kendrick Lamar also had a huge year and will continue his success with his upcoming Super Bowl performance.
It’s unlikely these stars will slow down in the new year. Carpenter has several international tour dates, Swift has two more re-recordings to drop, and they’re all up for awards at the upcoming Grammys. However, some other stars who took a backseat in 2024 are prepared to step to the front of the music industry this year. While there are plenty of rumors of whichartists might be dropping an album in 2025, a lot have confirmed that they’re ready to return to music. They could be the ones to define the year the way last year’s stars defined 2024.
5Lana Del Rey
The Right Person Will Stay Comes Out In May
Lana Del Rey’s last album,Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd,debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 charts and was nominated for Album of The Year at the 2024 Grammys. The singer is set to release her next album,The Right Person Will Stay, on May 21st. Despite not releasing an album in 2024, she still had a successful year. Del Rey performed at Coachella, and a few of her hits went viral on social media. She also had a major win in her personal life, marrying Jeremy Dufrene in September.
However, 2025 is likely to be a much bigger year, withDel Rey’s new album coming, which will likely be centered around her recent marriage.The artist confirmed she’s switching genres and tackling countrythis time around. This is a big deal, as her previous releases have all been alt-pop. However, with country music blowing up last year due toCowboy Carterand a slew of other country artists seeing success,The Right Person Will Stayhas the potential to be the biggest album of the year.
4Oasis
Oasis Is Reuniting For A World Tour
Oasis saw international success throughout the 90s and early 2000s, but things shifted whenNoel Gallagher left the group in 2009. The remaining members continued under the new name Beady Eye. However, by 2014, their time had come to an official end. Luckily for Oasis fans, over a decade later, the band is getting back together for a reunion tour. While the UK-based band saw most of their success in their homeland, they’re taking their tour worldwide.
Though there are only a few dates in the United States, Oasis will be playing major venues, including two dates at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.The reunion tour is bound to make headlinesas the group has not played a show together in 15 years and has never been shy of controversy, and the demand for tickets already proved to be huge.
3Lisa
Lisa’s Solo Album Comes Out This Year
Blackpink debuted in 2016, and in the following years, K-Pop would take over the music industry, turning them into massive stars. While the band is still together, Lisa, one of the most popular members, will release her debut solo album this year.The singer released three of the album’s tracks in 2024, with the remaining songs still under wraps. Two of the released songs charted on Billboard’s Hot 100, with “Rockstar” also winning a Video Music Award in 2024. Lisa was also a performer at the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, where she performed “Rockstar” and “Moonlit Floor.”
2025 could be an even bigger year for the solo artist since her album is scheduled to be released on February 28th. Lisa has gained recognition from the music industry’s biggest stars, appearing in photos with Sabrina Carpenter andhanging out with Taylor Swift backstage at the Eras tour. With a little support from her famous friends, 2025 could be the biggest year of Lisa’s career.
2Chappell Roan
Roan Teased A New Album In October
2024 may have seemed like Chappell Roan’s year, but 2025 is also gearing up for some Roan domination. Despite being one of 2024’s biggest stars, Roan’s last album came out at the end of 2023, before her career took off. As hits like “Hot To Go” and “Pink Pony Club” took over the world,Roan released a new song not on the albumcalled “Good Luck Babe.” The song peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and is up for three nominations at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Chappell Roan teased a new albumin October, which could very likely include “Good Luck Babe” as one of its tracks.2025 could be an even bigger year for Roan, as this time, she already has mainstream popularity, which could make her album one of the biggest new releases of the year. Another thing working in her favor is fewer pop superstars are releasing music this year, so she won’t have to share the spotlight as much as she did in 2024.
1Lady Gaga
Gaga Has A New Pop Album Coming In 2025
Lady Gaga changed the music industry when she debuted in the late 2000s. However, after years of dominating the pop charts, she pivoted to the film industry, earning an Academy Award for her work on “Shallows.” Unfortunately, her next few films, including 2024’sThe Joker: Folie à Deux, did not see the same success asA Star Is Born. This left space forGaga to make her return to music. Her last pop album,Chromatica, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts, and her single “Rain On Me,” featuring Ariana Grande, won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo Performance.
Gaga is currently up for 2 Grammys for her #1 duet with Bruno Mars, “Die With A Smile.” She also released her new single “Disease” in late 2024 and announced a new pop album will be coming in 2025. Pop music has been missing Gaga for the past few years, and her return will likely make a huge splash. With an Oscar win and two successful albums with Tony Bennett,there’s nothing Lady Gaga can’t do. Dominating 2025 with her comeback album should be a piece of cake.
