A Dive into the Pop Music of 2024

This year has been big for the music industry, with many songs and artists breaking records and receiving nominations for Grammys. Artists released new albums and started viral trends that will leave an effect on the years to come. Let’s look at some of the most memorable albums and events that took place in the music industry this year.

Guts Tour: Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts Tour started in February and will end in July of next year. Her tour brought a lot of excitement to Gen Z, with many clips of her concert being posted on TikTok and YouTube. She sang popular songs from her discography like “Driver’s License” and “Vampire.” Her songs include slow songs, rock, and pop, with heartfelt, relatable lyrics to people in this generation. Her show in Los Angeles was filmed and released on Netflix, which was titled: GUTS World Tour, and takes fans into the exciting experience of being in the concert.

The Eras Tour: Taylor Swift

The Eras Tour was a highly successful tour that started last year in March and just ended this December. Taylor Swift, one of the most successful singers of this generation, has managed to have the highest-grossing tour of all time, surpassing musical legends like Michael Jackson and Beyonce. According to Business Insider, “The tour stretched for 149 dates, visited 21 countries, and grossed over $2 billion in ticket sales.”

Eternal Sunshine: Ariana Grande

Eternal Sunshine by Ariana Grande was released on March 28 and includes beautifully written songs ranging from hip-hop, pop, and ballads. Her album was highly anticipated by the public, considering she hasn’t released one since 2020. This album gave Grande three Grammy nominations and debuted number 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

Hit me Hard and Soft: Billie Eilish

Hit me Hard and Soft was Billie’s Eilish’s third studio album and released on May 17th. This album release was popular, and trending on TikTok. Her songs “Birds of a Feather,” went viral on all platforms, especially TikTok. “Birds of a Feather” was number 1 on the Billboard Global 200 chart, reflecting its huge success.

Brat: Charli XCX

The hit album Brat went extremely viral, starting many trends, becoming a cultural phenomenon. It came out on June 7th and immediately started gaining popularity. The song “Apple” became a TikTok dance. And Gen Z, started using the term “Brat Summer” to describe the summer of 2024 and trends. Brat was also used for Kamala Harris’s campaign during the election. Kamala HQ, the official X page for Kamala Harris’ campaign, made her banner Brat themed. Moreover, on TikTok many edits of Kamala have went viral with songs from the Brat Album, and Charli XCX called Kamala Harris “brat” which many seem like an insult, but in Gen Z terms, it’s an extreme compliment, meaning she’s iconic and confident.

Short N’ Sweet: Sabrina Carpenter

The album Short N’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter was released on August 23rd including hit songs like “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” Her tour was also trending on TikTok for its catchy songs and her cute outfits, which changed colors every show. The tune of her song “Espresso” was also used in a very popular SNL skit called “Domingo.” This album also hit number one the Billboard 200 and solidified her name in the music industry and in the world, giving her many opportunities like her own Christmas special on Netflix, her own drink at Dunkin, and more.