In music, it’s very hard to just decide which sounds better than other things, mostly because there are so many possibilities and genres that it’s hard to say anything more than “I prefer this”, getting out of the subjective opinion sometimes seems like a personal statement rather than being logical, even though sometimes there are some aspects of music that can be analyzed that way.
Production, technique, experience, sound quality, all these aspects of music can be very close to a quantifiable opinion and even something that could be rated from better to worse.
Still, beyond those aspects, it would be hard to say that one genreis better than the other, but what we can say is which genres are more successful than others, and a lot of the things that we mentioned earlier have an important role, the production process, the sound quality and experience (even though it might not be on the artist’s side but the producer’s side of things).
So without taking a stand on which genre is better because this is hardly an amicable subject, we will be taking a look at which genres have had the most impact and have gotten themselves into the spotlight as the most popular in the music industry.
1. Pop
There is no doubt that today the most popular music in the music industry is pop music, as its name suggests. The thing about pop is that it is basically that, popular music and trends change over time so pop music is the genre that changes the most over time, while still holding the throne as the most popular in the industry.
In order to understand pop, it’s important to understand the context of the times, for example back in the 60s The Beatles were at the top of pop music, having hit after hit and conquering the world with their music and full live shows.
If you were to put The Beatles in a genre today, it would not be pop, it would probably be Rock because they were a Rock band, they just happened to be what was popular at the time, even more so with soft rock hits like “Hey Jude”, “Help”, and many more.
After that, the 70s gave pop a more funk and disco sound, in the 80s it was all about synths, electronic music, and glam, and then towards the 90s and 2000s, it started to shift towards hip hop, EDM, and even influenced by some Latin sounds from artists like Ricky Martin, and Shakira.
Today it’s hard to say where pop stands, even more so with how every genre is getting influenced by everything, but there is always one aspect of pop that will never change, if it’s very much alive in the mainstream and at the top of the “most played” songs in the world, it’s pop.
2. Hip hop
While hip hop used to be the underdog in the 80s, it very quickly rose in popularity around the 90s and 2000s making it probably the second most popular genre in the world today.
It’s very interesting how it came to be, and how real it always is to rely so strongly on the beat and make spoken words have the same amount of feeling as Blues with a bit more aggressiveness, which was just what some people needed to represent hardships and struggles.
Hip Hop became so influential that almost every genre of music was affected as it became more popular, you have bands like Korn and Slipknot under the Nu Metal category, you have stars like Kendrick Lamar and Ye at the top hanging with the pop stars, you have Trap, and more.
3. EDM & Electronic Music
The digital era of music opened up a lot of possibilities, one of them was the endless sounds of electronic music which started to really find its way into the mainstream in the 90s and 2000s.
Electronic music has had a lot of different subgenres, most of them enjoying a bit of mainstream fame including EDM which was one of the most popular and still is to this day, House Music, Dubstep in the 2010s, and more, including those relaxing playlists of low fi which work closely with hip hop.
The world of music changed with electronic music and just as hip hop did, you can hear its influence in so many genres and industries, changing videogames, movies, and more because of the freedom that a composer has when “thinking electronic.”
4. Reggaeton
Over the past few years, there has been a sort of international revolution with music, making genres from all over the world join the biggest most popular artists in their success worldwide, in the case of reggaeton, its simple but effective formula, has been able to shake people and make them dance with hits over and over again.
This genre started around the 90s in Puerto Rico as a perfect mix of hip hop with reggae, electronic and Latin roots that paved the way for what was to come in the mainstream.
Artists such as Don Omar, Daddy Yankee, and Wisin & Yandel, made the genre explode with big hits that first moved South America and later started making noise in the US, eventually taking them to an international spotlight.
The recipe for the perfect reggaeton track is not complicated, but the magic is in the details, the perfect kick sound, the hi-hats layering, and the rhythm of the voice.
And while you could say people love to sing the lyrics, there has been some controversy from time to time for being very explicit and sexual but, maybe there is some spark of success there as well.
However, artists such as Bad Bunny that create in between trap and reggaeton have taken the lyrics to a whole new place, sometimes turning the story upside down and changing the way reggaeton storytelling works.
While it’s quite specific, the international success of K-Pop cannot be understated, with the obvious bannermen being BTS, it has shaken young people with its familiar yet new sound from Asia to America.
In terms of popularity Rock has had its up and downs but today there is no doubt that it’s mostly out of the mainstream, however, this does not take away at all the popularity of the genre and its effect on the music industry.
Yes during the 60s Elvis Presley and The Beatles made rock n roll the best thing in the world but after that, there was never a success as big as those two, even though some bands and artists did make it into the mainstream.
The interesting thing about Rock as a genre is that it’s about being loud, rowdy, and just like hip hop very honest and real, which makes Rock a bit of an underdog in the music industry, with the potential of making a lot of noise, like for example Nirvana.
After the 80s came around Rock fell from grace as a popular genre, the digital era took over and it was not about guitars and strong drums anymore but from time to time Rock works in a way that gives the tools to an artist as an outsider to break into the mainstream and change it.
Bands like Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, and more, have managed to make themselves heard in the mainstream without growing up in it, and that seems to be the way Rock works today.
Yes, Metal is more popular than some people might expect, and while it does come as a Rock sub-genre, it has enough differences and popularity to consider it a completely different genre.
Some people need to feel like they can rebel in healthy ways against everything that makes them anxious and angry, and Metal is a great outlet in that way, with fast drums, strongly distorted guitars, and loud screaming, it becomes this horror-like experience that makes your heart race with excitement.
There are now a lot of Metal subgenres and lots of influences from progressive rock, electronic music, and more, but the core of its aggressiveness is always going to be at the heart of this almost not popular genre.
Saying that classical music is not popular almost feels like a crime, it’s like saying you don’t like that grandfather who always tells amazing stories and everyone likes.
More than that it’s not just about the past and the incredible compositions that are part of our history as mankind, it’s also a part of the mainstream, although not in the same way as before.
Classical music is always present in movies, video games, commercials, theater, and more, simply because symphonies and operas are able to evoke feelings in a way that no other genre can.
There is something about the way this genre feels, that even a single instrument, like a piano, can move anyone and bring some tears in an otherworldly experience.
There are a lot more genres and subgenres but these are the most popular today, and the ones that fill stadiums, top 100 charts, and make their way into the everyday experience, whether it’s on different forms of media or just fans’ loyalty to keep listening.
Music is always changing and evolving but if one thing is for certain is that while popular genres may change, there will always be amazing music that makes life better for everyone.
FAQs
Top 8 Genres in the Music Industry in 2023 | TalkinMusic? ›
The next big genre in music is electronic dance music (EDM). This genre has been growing in popularity over the past few years and shows no signs of slowing down. EDM is characterized by its heavy use of synthesizers and electronic instruments, as well as its fast-paced, often danceable beats.
What music genre will be popular next? ›The next big genre in music is electronic dance music (EDM). This genre has been growing in popularity over the past few years and shows no signs of slowing down. EDM is characterized by its heavy use of synthesizers and electronic instruments, as well as its fast-paced, often danceable beats.
What era of music is 2023? ›Normal era: 2023 - Rate Your Music.
What are the top growing music genres? ›Between 2020 and 2022, Latin music grew 55.29% in album consumption in the U.S., according to Luminate, far outstripping the overall industry's 21.61%, as well as the growth of the four biggest genres in the U.S. over that time: R&B/hip-hop (12.17%), rock (22.28%), pop (20.64%) and country (19.22%).
What was the number 1 song in 2023? ›Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”
What was the most listened to song in 2023? ›Leading the top global songs list is Miley Cyrus' smash hit “Flowers” which has been named the most streamed song of 2023 so far with 1.16 billion global audio streams.
What is the #1 music genre right now? ›Pop is the most popular music genre in the world.
1. 2.
Gen Z spend more time with music than the overall population. Those age 13-24 in the U.S. spend 3 hours and 43 minutes daily listening to music — an average of 40 minutes more than the rest of the population. Their top genre preferences are Hip Hop/R&B, Top 40, and Alternative Rock.
What music is trendy now? ›- Ella Baila Sola. Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma.
- Calm Down (with Selena Gomez) Rema, Selena Gomez.
- Kill Bill. SZA.
- Chemical. Post Malone.
- Flowers. Miley Cyrus.
- Curtains. Ed Sheeran.
- Cupid - Twin Ver. FIFTY FIFTY.
- Boy's a liar Pt. PinkPantheress, Ice Spice.
The current year by the Gregorian calendar, AD 2023, is 12023 HE in the Holocene calendar.
Who are the new rising artists? ›
Here are the essential new and rising artists poised to make a major impact in 2023, including Eem Triplin, Hemlocke Springs, Chase Plato, Jim Legxacy, TiaCorine, Ben Reilly, and more. In some ways, 2022 felt like one of the most unpredictable years for music in recent memory.
What is the fastest growing music industry? ›Yes, the music industry is growing.
However, the Middle East and North Africa is the fastest-growing region for the global recorded music industry in 2021, with a 35% growth rate. In the future (between 2021 and 2026), the global music industry is expected to have a CAGR of 8.5%.
By genre, rock artists landed the most spots, 13, down one from last year; pop acts accounted for nine entries, down from 14; country, three spots, down from eight; and Latin, two berths, up one from 2019.
What is the best music genre to lift to? ›Fast music with strong beats tends to help the most, so think garage, house, hip-hop. The musical tempo can bring your heartbeat up, facilitating exercise.
Who is the number 1 artist 2023? ›| Position | Country | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | US | Miley Cyrus |
| 2 | US | Morgan Wallen |
| 3 | US | Taylor Swift |
| 4 | US | Mariah Carey |
Abel Tesfaye, more commonly known as The Weeknd, is statistically the most popular musician on the planet, and no one else even comes close. The 33-year-old Canadian singer's success has seen him set two new Guinness World Records titles: Most monthly listeners on Spotify – 111.4 million (as of 20 March 2023)
Who is the most popular band 2023? ›- a crowd of rebellion. ...
- iRis.EXE. ...
- In Fear. ...
- Curses (US) ...
- Blind Summit. ...
- Akkadian. ...
- El Moono. ...
- Casey.
“Blinding Lights” was also officially recognized as the biggest US Billboard Hot 100 single of all time. When released at the end of 2019, the song spent over 100 weeks in the charts. If you haven't already, be sure to give "Blinding Lights" a listen on Spotify.
What's the number 1 song in the world ever? ›According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.
What is the most streamed song ever? ›| Ed Sheeran | Shape of You | 3.96 billion |
|---|---|---|
| Luis Fonsi | Despacito | 3.25 billion |
| Lewis Capaldi | Someone You Loved | 2.88 billion |
| Tones And I | Dance Monkey | 2.85 billion |
| Post Malone | rockstar (feat. 21 Savage) | 2.71 billion |
What music do 20 year olds listen to? ›
| Characteristic | 16-19 | 20-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Pop Music | 52% | 54% |
| Rock Music | 28% | 39% |
| Hip Hop/Rap | 48% | 54% |
| Indie/Alternative Rock | 31% | 40% |
However, some of the most commonly disliked genres include country, rap, and metal. These genres are often criticized for being too simplistic, repetitive, or aggressive. Other genres that tend to be unpopular include jazz, classical, and folk.
What genre is right now? ›Musically, "Right Now" is an EDM and pop song. The lyrical content features Rihanna chanting to live life in the moment.
What is the most listened to genre by Gen Z? ›Comedy is Gen Zers' favorite genre, with 38% selecting it as one of their three favorites.
What's the newest music genre? ›- Synthwave.
- Ambient music.
- J-pop.
- Nu disco.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE Z OR CENTENNIAL GENERATION
Aged between eight and 23 years old, generation Z or the post-millennial generation will take the lead in a few decades.
BTS currently holds the record for most consecutive weeks at number one with 180.
Is new music falling in popularity? ›That's according to a new midyear report published by US market monitor Luminate (formerly MRC Data / Nielsen Music). It shows that 'Total Album Consumption' of 'Current' recorded music in the United States in the first half of 2022 fell 1.4% in volume versus the equivalent metric from the same period of 2021.
What is 2025 called? ›2025 (MMXXV) will be a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2025th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 25th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 6th year of the 2020s decade. Millennium: 3rd millennium.
What big things are happening in 2023? ›- Rihanna Performs At The Super Bowl Halftime Show, Feb. ...
- WorldPride in Sydney, Feb. ...
- Warner Bros. ...
- Celebration Picasso 1973-2023, April 8. ...
- The Coronation Of King Charles, May 6. ...
- FIFA Women's World Cup, July 20-Aug. ...
- Disney100, Oct. ...
- Diwali, Nov.
What decade is 2024? ›
2024 (MMXXIV) will be a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2024th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 24th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 5th year of the 2020s decade.
What is the future of music? ›The future of music will most likely follow the same trends we are seeing in modern technology. It will be incredibly social similar to social media, it will become increasingly computer-based and A.I.
What age do people stop looking new music? ›According to their findings, people tend to experience a “musical paralysis” at around the age of 30.5, whereby they stop listening to new artists or genres and tend to stick to what they know.
Where is music on 2023? ›Music On Festival 2023 - Weekend at Meerpark, Amsterdam.
Who are the new artists to invest in now? ›- Clare Woods. British painter Clare Woods uses thick paint as a tool to sculpt an image, which harks back to her original training as a sculptor. ...
- Jennifer Louise Martin. ...
- Max Wade.
- Will Joseph Cook.
- Louis Berry.
- Martin Jensen. Credit: Martin Jensen.
- Ghetts.
- Jon Bellion. Credit: Jon Bellion.
- Rag N Bone Man.
Major record labels make up over 85 percent of the music industry. Currently, the four major record labels (known as the Big Four) are EMI, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group.
What is becoming faster in music? ›Accelerando (accel.) Getting gradually faster Rallentando (rall.) Getting gradually slower Calando Softer and slower Ritardando (ritard., rit.)
What are the big three in the music industry? ›- Universal Music Group.
- Sony Music.
- Warner Music Group.
What pays musicians the most? ›
Here are some takeaways: In 2021, Spotify paid more to artists and musicians than any other streaming service, $7 billion (US) in total. The streamer says around 1000 artists generated $1m in revenue in 2021, while 450 artists earned more than $2m, and 130 artists over $5m.
What genre of music is worth it? ›...
Worth It (Fifth Harmony song)
| "Worth It" | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Dance-pop R&B |
| Length | 3:44 |
| Label | Epic Syco |
| Songwriter(s) | Priscilla Renea Mikkel S. Eriksen Tor Erik Hermansen Ori Kaplan |
Because blues music is a genre that is emotional, it requires the most talent to create. Because jazz music is a smooth type of music, it requires the most talent to create. The speed with which metal music is produced is what makes it the most difficult type of music to master.
What is the happiest genre of music? ›Jazz. Without a doubt, jazz has some of the happiest songs ever written. This list of songs is at times peaceful and calming while other times celebratory and playful.
What type of music relaxes you the most? ›Sounds of rain, thunder, and nature sounds may also be relaxing particularly when mixed with other music, such as light jazz, classical (the "largo" movement), and easy listening music.
What genre of music is best for dopamine? ›- 1. " Clair de Lune" -- Debussy.
- 2. " Adagio for Strings" -- Barber.
- 3. " Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor ("The Tempest")" -- Beethoven.
- 4. " First Breath After Coma" -- Explosions in the Sky.
- 5. " Adagio for Strings" -- Tiesto.
- Crazy In Love, Beyoncé
- Umoya, Skwatta Kamp:
- Get Busy, Sean Paul:
- Miss You, Aaliyah:
- Hey Ya! Outkast:
- In Da Club, 50 Cent:
- Cry Me A River, Justin Timberlake.
- Milkshake, Kelis:
...
By year.
| Artist ranking | 1 | Bad Bunny (9.1 billion) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Taylor Swift | |
| 3 | BTS | |
| 4 | Drake | |
| 5 | Justin Bieber |
Coldplay to Stop Producing Music in 2025 -
Who is the No 1 band in the world now? ›Who is the biggest band today, and why? Currently, the South Korean boy band BTS is the biggest group at the moment. As of the week of July 24th, 2021, they are number one in the Billboard Artist 100 and have remained on the chart for an incredible 249 weeks.
Who has the biggest fanbase in the world music? ›
| Popularity ranking | Artist | Fans tracking |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Rihanna | Fans tracking: 5,043,169 |
| 02 | Drake | Fans tracking: 5,035,185 |
| 03 | Coldplay | Fans tracking: 4,932,458 |
| 04 | Eminem | Fans tracking: 4,916,806 |
...
Most Popular Artists on Spotify by Monthly Listeners.
| Ranking | Artist | Monthly Listeners (Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | The Weeknd | 108.52 |
| #2 | Taylor Swift | 83.87 |
| #3 | Ed Sheeran | 83.15 |
1, Stevie became the youngest solo artist to have topped the Billboard Hot 100 – though another future Motown superstar, Michael Jackson, was aged just 11 years 155 days when The Jackson Five's “I Want You Back” topped the Billboard charts in January 1970.
What key most of future songs are? ›Keys And BPMs
Future sticks to minor scales for the most part, with his true wheelhouse being A minor through F minor.
- 2 No.
- 31 Top 10 Hits.
- 217 Songs.
- Metallica — "Master of Puppets" originally released in 1986 and came back in 2022. ...
- KISS — "I Was Made For Lovin' You" was originally released in 1979 and came back in 2020. ...
- Seal — "Kiss From A Rose," originally released in 1994, came back in 1995.
Gen Z spend more time with music than the overall population. Those age 13-24 in the U.S. spend 3 hours and 43 minutes daily listening to music — an average of 40 minutes more than the rest of the population. Their top genre preferences are Hip Hop/R&B, Top 40, and Alternative Rock.
Is rap music losing popularity? ›While the popularity of hip hop has been declining steadily since 2004, the popularity of rapping as a genre of music has stayed stable over the past decades. A possible reason for this situation could be that rap music has spread out over many different subgenres and has become more niched down today.