Chartmetric

Holiday music is shifting and the data shows it’s getting noticeably sadder. Across Spotify’s major holiday playlists, the share of newly added tracks tagged “melancholic” has been increasing from 2021. Listeners are no longer just replaying the classics anymore; they’re actively gravitating toward emotionally heavier holiday music. In our latest analysis, we break down the artists and industry forces driving this shift. From Phoebe Bridgers’ spectral covers to Sabrina Carpenter’s heart-first holiday ballads, a new wave of releases is redefining what a modern Christmas hit can sound like. Cheerful evergreens still lead the season, but an emerging lane of anti-festive, melancholic tracks is gaining real traction. Read the full story by April Clare Welsh here: https://lnkd.in/e_xa2dsR

Finding accurate contact info in the global music industry used to be nearly impossible. Mark Williamson, CEO and Co-Founder of ROSTR, has changed that. He turned a manually curated directory of 15,000 artists into a multifaceted platform where 75% of data now comes directly from labels, managers, agencies, and artists themselves. In our latest interview, Williamson shares how ROSTR is creating a more transparent, collaborative music industry, as well as unpacking the emerging trends reshaping artist management. Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/ej7HAA4w

2025 has officially become the year of bassline’s big bounce back. From PinkPantheress and Jorja Smith embracing the sound to UK producers like Denon Reed pushing it back into the charts, the once-maligned genre is now one of the fastest-rising scenes in British dance music. Our latest article breaks down the data behind bassline’s resurgence, the artists leading the movement, and how streaming platforms and social trends have helped fuel its comeback. Read full analysis by Ben Jolley here: https://lnkd.in/eH9V5Fbz

From Lorde singing along to her own track in Washington Square Park to The All-American Rejects throwing literal house parties, pop-up sets have become one of the most effective ways to cut through today’s saturated music landscape. And the numbers speak for themselves: - Lorde’s one-song pop-up in NYC boosted her Spotify monthly listeners from 21.5M to 34.6M in under a month, plus 300K new Instagram followers. - The All-American Rejects’ House Party Tour sparked a sharp spike in Spotify monthly listeners and doubling their Instagram following, from 220.9K to 450.8K. Pop-ups seem to be redefining fan connection, fueling user-generated content, and creating cultural moments that traditional promo can’t replicate.  Full analysis by Harry Levin on How Music Charts: https://lnkd.in/eCrw8Kc7

We’re proud to support Keychange US, an award-winning nonprofit working to build a more equitable music industry for women and gender-expansive artists and executives. From mentorship to community building, to showcase and speaking opportunities and funding pathways, Keychange U.S. is investing in the future of music — one that reflects the diversity of the artists and leaders shaping it. Every donation made this holiday season is matched up to $100K by our friends at TuneCore, doubling the impact of your gift. Join us in amplifying the Keychange U.S. movement and donate to their Year End Fundraising Campaign: keychangeus.com/donate OR direct link: https://lnkd.in/gkn6Zr6X #KeychangeUS #GenderEquityInMusic #GivingTuesday #WomenInMusic

With TikTok, songs are going viral faster than ever, but the impact on streaming success is slowing down. In 2020, it took an average of 340 days for a song to hit 100k TikTok posts. By 2025, that number dropped to just around 50. But faster virality no longer means bigger success. TikTok fame now burns brighter but shorter, with fewer viral songs translating into lasting Spotify streams. The new era seems to favor micro-viral moments: smaller, more authentic bursts of attention that artists turn into momentum. Read full analysis by Jubran Haddad on How Music Charts: https://lnkd.in/eV_Kpc68

Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is having a major moment. Chartmetric data shows that playlists like Christian Hits and Top Contemporary Christian have seen significant follower spikes in 2024–2025, reflecting renewed interest in faith-based music across streaming platforms. Artists such as Forrest Frank, Brandon Lake, and Alex Warren are redefining modern Christian pop by infusing authenticity, spirituality, and social media storytelling into a genre long rooted in tradition. Our latest analysis explores how millennial and Gen Z listeners are driving this resurgence, why faith-driven themes are resonating in today’s cultural and political landscape, and how CCM continues to evolve beyond traditional institutions while maintaining its emotional core. Read full story by April Clare Welsh on How Music Charts here: https://lnkd.in/e6JH_U2w

Taylor Swift has officially surpassed Billie Eilish to become the fourth longest artist to remain above 100M Spotify monthly listeners. She now sits closely behind Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars! 🎧 Check out more data insights and videos on our TikTok: https://lnkd.in/esK8HCWF

Our President, Andreas Katsambas, will be joining BIME Bilbao 2025 this week for a series of sessions exploring the current state and future of the music industry. On Wednesday, October 29, Andreas will open the Congreso Internacional de Investigación en Industrias Creativas (CIIC) with a keynote on music industry trends in Spain and their global impact as both an exporter and importer of music. Later that day, he’ll lead an interactive workshop at BIME Pro, guiding attendees through how to use Chartmetric to analyze music data in real time. A smaller follow-up session will be held on Thursday too. BIME attendees will receive one month of free Chartmetric Premium access! If you’re attending BIME this year, don’t miss the chance to join these sessions and feel free to say hello afterward! More information here: https://lnkd.in/emFp6ZxP

Sync licensing continues to prove its power as a driver of artist growth and brand storytelling. Since Modanna’s Pepsi ad in 1989, ad sync placements have long bridged music and commerce. Today, they’ve evolved into something more dynamic; a fast track for audience growth, streaming spikes, and new revenue streams for artists at every level. Take Fcukers, the New York electronic duo behind “Play Me.” The track’s sync in Apple’s September Keynote led to a surge in Shazams in the days after the ad release. As the senior product manager at Ninja Tune, Hannah Silk Champagne, puts it: “A sync in an Apple Keynote is always a unique opportunity for an artist to gain exposure to a massive and broad audience.” Read more to find out how artists like Good Neighbors, Jess Glynne, THE DARE, and Katseye have had great success with ad syncs here: https://lnkd.in/e9ymN4v2 Thanks Ben Jolley for contributing!