Hold on to your headphones because 2025 will be a year of serious beats. The trends that are coming will make you perk your ears up.
Artists will blend the familiar with the futuristic, the dark with the dazzling, and the human with the high-tech in the coming year. Whether you’re looking for the next viral video soundtrack or an editor searching for new sounds to use in a client’s project, 2025 will be a year filled with ear-catching trends and tracks.
Are you ready to create the soundtrack for 2025? Let’s take a look at the top music styles that will dominate the airwaves in the coming year.
1. Sonic branding is on the rise
Know that little catchy tune that plays when you open your favourite app or watch a TV show you love? This is called the Sonic brand, and it has taken over. Brands will no longer be limited to logos and taglines in 2025. They’ll also create soundscapes you’ll remember, like the song stuck in your head.
What is a sonic brand, and why has it become so popular? Brands need to find new ways to stand out as our lives are becoming more screen-centric. Sonic branding allows brands to express themselves through music.
Luke Hawkins, Envato’s creative director, says that sonic branding has become increasingly important in a cluttered media environment. It allows brands to create memorable pieces of music that make people feel something.
Companies like Netflix and McDonald’s have some of the most well-known sonic brands. Who is not familiar with Netflix’s “Dum Dum“ or Macca’s jingle “I’m Loving It”? Sonic brands are not only a marketing tool but also a way of creating a stronger emotional connection with the audience.
Smaller brands and businesses have also adopted the trend of sonic branding this year. Envato teamed up with New York producer K. Sparks to create a sonic brand as part of the 2024 rebrand. The logo has 120 layers of audio, including a basketball, a balloon popping, a match, a car, a sudden breath-out, and much more.
As brands try to make their mark in the crowded internet landscape, they will invest in custom soundtracks and jingles. Who knows? You might be singing along with your favourite brand’s logo by the end of this year!
Create your sound branding using Envato. Examples include swoosh and match striking.
2. Darkwave
Darkwave has returned, moodier, broodier and more atmospheric than before. This subgenre of New Wave music combines gothic, post-punk and electronic beats into darkwave loops that are as haunting and hypnotic as they can be.
Darkwave is on the rise, thanks to the popularity of retro music and darker aesthetics. Bands such as Boy Harsher and Drabmajesty are leading the charge with their eerie techno-inspired vibes.
K. Pietras of Envato’s Red Octopus says: “In the last few years, several musical styles have emerged, including retro wave, cyberpunk and, most recently, phone, all inspired by synth music from the 80s.“ Now, Darkwave is a new evolution. This is a darker sound with more pop elements and often vocals. This is not a passing trend but rather a fluid evolution of 80s synthesizer music. Musicians still love classic synthesizers. Darkwave is evolving into what style of synthesizer? “Time will tell, but let’s celebrate the rise of Darkwave for now.”
The darkwave genre, which includes sub-genres such as neoclassical Darkwave, dark fantasy, and ambient dark, is also evolving, attracting new styles and fans. We expect Darkwave to continue growing in 2025 as more artists, brands, and creatives embrace the aesthetic.
Want to go back in time? You can also explore this retro trend by downloading this darkwave track or this 80s neon drive beat.
3. The 2000s are back, and it’s slaying!
Grab your flip phones and low-rise jeans because 2000s Pop is making a big comeback. It’s that sparkling, bubblegum-like sound that defined a decade. Think Britney Spears and NSYNC.
Why is this trend now resurfacing? Nostalgia, baby! People look back on the early 2000s with rose-coloured lenses. Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter are just a few artists who have tapped into the Y2K spirit with a modern twist. They pay homage to those catchy hooks, feel-good vibes, and addictive Y2K music.
The 2000s is the soundtrack of choice for anyone looking to throwback to simpler and more sparkling times. So, expect to see more 2000s-inspired tracks top the charts by 2025.
Envato’s retro-pop track will give you a Y2K feel!
4. Genre-bending & style blending
Who says that you must stick to a single genre? Music in 2025 will be all about mixing it up, blurring genre lines and creating something completely new. Artists are breaking down traditional music categories with mashups like country-punk and rap-country.
Mark Brodhuber, Envato’s music specialist, says that this trend involves blending different genres to create something new. It also includes artists who have traditionally stuck with a particular genre, releasing songs in a completely different genre.
Why is there a sudden interest in genre-bending music? Listeners today are more diverse than ever and want something new. JellyRoll & MGK, Post Malone & Morgan Wallen, and JellyRoll & MGK are leading the way with unexpected collaborations that keep fans guessing. Beyonce also embraced the trend by releasing an original yet controversial country album.
Expect more artists to experiment with new sounds and styles as we move into 2025. No rules apply, whether it’s rap or pop-punk with an acoustic twang. You never know what you’ll hear next as a music lover.
This summer pop-punk track from Envato will have you bending, blending and dancing!
5. AI Music revolutionizes the industry
AI is taking over the music industry. Artificial intelligence will not only be used to streamline workflows and write copy, but it will also be a creative partner that producers and musicians can use to produce more innovative music in 2025.
Why is AI music so popular? AI is becoming more sophisticated as technology improves. It can now analyze large amounts of data and create music that sounds almost human. Spotify’s AI DJ curates personalized playlists. Meanwhile, artists such as Grimes or Holly Herndon use AI to push boundaries in music by using a “spawning“ technique.
“I call spawning the process of teaching AI to use a sound’s sonic properties in order to create a completely new sound,“ says Holly Herndon. This allows me to create vocals that I haven’t sung from a collection of phrases I have recorded. I think of spawning like a 21st-century corollary of the musical tradition sampling, which has made a big impact on music and intellectual properties–but is more exciting and possibly really weird.”
AI will continue to play a more important role in music next year, from generating beats to creating entire compositions. The future of music has arrived! While purists may scoff at the idea, AI opens up new creative possibilities.
AI Image Generator is a great way to get the AI sound.
6. Pop-punk makes a comeback
Pop-punk, baby, is back! 2025 will be the year you long for angsty lyrics, power chords and a swaggering style. Bands such as Sum 41 and Avril Lavigne have already led the resurgence by releasing new songs and bringing back a sound that defined an entire generation.
The genre mixes raw emotion and glossy production. In today’s society, people want music that speaks directly to their feelings while also giving them something to dance to. The nostalgia factor is also huge. Listeners who grew up with pop-punk want to relive their childhood, while a whole new generation discovers the genre.
Pop-punk will continue to dominate the charts. Newer acts such as Olivia Rodrigo and Machine Gun Kelly are bringing a new twist to the genre. It’s time for you to dust off your Vans, whether you’re an old-timer or a newbie.
Get the Pop-Punk Sound with this punk song and this pop-punk tune from Envato.
7. Indie artists are dominating the mainstream
Indie isn’t so indie anymore. In 2025, independent artists will step into the spotlight and prove that they don’t have to work with a major record label.
Why are independent artists gaining popularity? Authenticity is key. Indie artists are delivering real music to today’s listeners. Chappell Rouan, who won Best New Artist in the 2024 VMAs, and Noah Kahan, who sold out stadiums, are just two examples of indie artists who have become global stars.
Jenn Anderson Miller, CEO of Audiosocket, says: “We are seeing a collaborative infrastructure develop across the social web, which is empowering talented independent artists to achieve mainstream success.“ We predict that in 2025, more media giants from various industries will leverage their huge audiences to support new acts. In a recent TikTok article, the music master plan was discussed. This changing ecosystem is changing how independent artists can find success in their own right.”
Even huge pop icons such as Ke$ha or The Veronicas have now become independent and carved their paths! Even more indie musicians will break through to the mainstream.
Are you looking for authentic indie music? Browse Closer To You and Our Last Night on Envato.
8. The music of ADHD is being emphasized (literally).
Want to improve your focus? You can create a playlist to help you focus. ADHD music, tracks specifically designed to aid in concentration, is a genre growing in popularity. These beats will help you focus on your task whether you’re studying, working, or trying to stay focused.
Why is ADHD Music so popular? Music to increase productivity is in high demand as more people are juggling remote work, online education, and daily distractions. The tracks tend to be instrumental with rhythms and tempos that are scientifically designed for your brain. Finding the sweet spot is key. The music should help you focus but not draw too much attention.
Bethany Gerrie is Envato’s social media manager and has been diagnosed with ADHD. She says that ADHD music was particularly helpful among the ADHD resources. I often get high-energy, distracting songs stuck in my mind, but ADHD music helps me to refocus and calm the noise. It helps me to get into the zone.”
This trend will continue to grow as more producers and artists experiment with ADHD-friendly music. ADHD music has evolved to fit the needs of multitaskers, from ambient soundscapes and lo-fi beats for study. These tunes can help you get things done, whether it’s cramming to pass an exam or working through the day.
Check out this low-fi beat or this low-fi track at Envato to listen to similar sounds!
9. 3D audio & music
You’ve probably wished that you could be immersed in a song. You can literally do it now! This is the magic of 3D audio and 3D music, which will be a major player in 2025. This trend is not just about listening to music but about experiencing it in an entirely new way. The sound will move through space and feel like it is coming from all directions.
Why is this trend gaining popularity? Listeners are looking for more immersive audio experiences. 3D music and spatial audio can provide this. Music isn’t only playing; it’s all around you.
Even Sony WF-C510 Earbuds have “Ambient mode“ with 360-degree audio.
Mark says that while 3D music was a novelty in the past, independent artists are pushing boundaries to make themselves stand out. I’m seeing more people integrate these techniques into regular music to add some flair.
More artists and producers will embrace spatial audio and 3D sound maps, turning their songs into immersive sonic adventures. This trend will redefine the way we listen to music by 2025, whether it is a live performance or a studio track.
