Written by Sam Cohen
This year, the music world was overwhelmed with pop albums, full of hot and not-so-hot tours, and a rap beef that will be remembered for decades. Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” was the first big moment in 2024, until Charli XCX and her Brat phenomenon took over the world. On
On the other hand, Drake’s career entered a downward spiral, and some artists failed to get a footing on big stages. There were some surprises this year, good and bad, but watching music’s biggest moments unfold was unlike years past. Dive into Pop Break’s winners and losers of the music world in 2024.
Winner: LA Rap
The debate is over. The West Coast is officially the king of rap– at least in 2024. Kendrick Lamar’s beef with Drake not only fueled his victorious 2024 but also ignited a flame in LA pride. “Not Like Us” became the theme of LA from Compton to Beverly Hills. Other LA artists, including Tyler, The Creator and Vince Staples, reinforced Kendrick’s sentiment by releasing albums. On Christmas Day, LA earned one final win after Tyler dropped a surprise freestyle, “THAT GUY.” Backed by a sample of Kendrick’s “Hey Now,” the video is filmed in Tyler’s hometown of Hawthorne and full of references to LA.
Loser: Drake
“Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile.” It was a rough year for Drake. He may be one of the most streamed artists in the world; however, his career took a turn for the worse in 2024. The start of his downfall came after he released “Push Ups,” a diss directed at Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick and Drake went back and forth with songs until “Not Like Us” was released, and Kendrick’s victory was cemented. Drake became a joke in the rap world and could never find a way to uplift his image. Drake’s last five albums are recognized as some of his worst efforts, leaving people often asking for “Old Drake” back, an issue Kendrick has no familiarity with.
Winner: ‘90s Rock
I’m not sure if people will ever get tired of the ‘90s. This year, it seemed like every iconic 90s indie band reunited or announced something special in store. The biggest win for ’90s kids is the Oasis reunion, planned for next summer. With dates in Europe and the U.S., it’s gonna be one of the biggest moments of 2025. Oasis wasn’t the only UK giant to have a big 2024; Beth Gibbons of Portishead released her first solo album in over 20 years to critical acclaim. Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon made waves of her own with The Collective. Stephen Malkmus did it all this year–along with wrapping up Pavement’s reunion, he kickstarted his newest project, The Hard Quartet, which features his latest work since 2020.
Loser: TikTok music
“TikTok music” is often used to describe any song or artist whose fame began and ended within a few weeks on TikTok. In past years, few artists have survived the “TikTok treatment,” and those who assumed their fame would last forever were proved wrong. Ice Spice and her TikTok-fueled meteoric rise came crashing down after a failed attempt with one of the most underwhelming albums of the year, Y2K. Artists could still find fame on the platform; however, we will unlikely see any in 2025. Tommy Richman and “Million Dollar Baby” was unavoidable last spring, and now he and his debut album can’t be heard anywhere – even TikTok. 2024 gave artists a good reminder that TikTok won’t deliver long-term fame, especially with TikTok’s impending U.S. ban in 2025.
Winner: Pop Stars
Over the past ten or so years, pop has been king, and although country stars established themselves this year and last, 2024 proved pop is still king. Charli, Chappell, Billie, Sabrina, Dua, the list is endless. Brat and Short n’ Sweet were staples of the summer, and Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter’s tours were some of the most successful of the year. For the most part, competition was the least of the artist’s concerns, as each major album seemed to have its moment in the sun. After 2024’s big pop year, I’m left wondering who will top the charts in 2025.
Loser: Arena Tours
It felt like every artist I liked toured this year, and many overestimated their crowds. Unlike ever before, it’s hard for artists to gauge how many people will support them in person. There has never been an easy way to approach this, but with social media’s growing role in the music industry, it seems some musicians’ business plans (or inflated egos) have booked venues far too big for their reach. Artists like The Black Keys, Joshua Bassett, and Omar Apollo booked large arenas and theaters, barely selling half the tickets.
The Black Keys have quickly turned from Rock Gods to a nostalgia act, and their high ticket prices forced a tour cancelation. Bassett’s “The Golden Years” tour rarely sold over half of the tour’s tickets and was eventually canned halfway through. In 2025, artists and management must be much more careful when booking tours, as touring is the only way for many artists to earn a living wage in today’s music industry.
Winner: The Himbo Dome
It’s still a mystery what a Himbo Dome is; however, it’s no mystery whether MJ Lenderman’s Manning Fireworks turned the indie world upside down. After making a name for himself in Karly Hartzman’s band Wednesday, Lenderman’s solo career found new heights in 2024. He topped many major publications’ top 10 albums of the year, including #3 on the Pop Break’s Top 10. After spending most of the year on the road, he’s ready to do it again in 2025 with his biggest venues yet. MJ Lenderman’s boat may be docked at the Himbo Dome; however, his career has set sail for success.
