Top 10 Music Trends Making A Come Back In 2024

The music industry is evolving rapidly, incorporating the latest emerging technology and adapting to an increasingly connected world.

Whether you’re a musician or DJ, the major music trends making a comeback will significantly impact your creative and professional processes.

To help you meet these challenges, we have broken down the top ten music trends for 2024 and how they are set to affect the industry.

Top 10 Music Trends Making A Comeback In 2024

Artificial intelligence, social media, and streaming platforms are just some of the factors to consider when looking to succeed as a creative musician.

If you are a professional musician or a hobbyist interested in new changes, this guide to music trends offers the insights you’re looking for.

So, with that said, here are the top 10 music trends making a comeback in 2024:

10. Diversification Of Music Monetization

Whether you’re a gigging DJ or a successful music producer, generating a steady income requires a multitude of revenue streams in order to thrive.

Traditionally, musicians and DJs achieve this end by combining income from their live performances with a range of merchandise and collaborations.

While these traditional methods remain relevant, the future of music will see artists embrace a range of new modes of monetization that were previously impossible.

Independent artists now have unlimited access to a global audience, with opportunities for increasing their market share and diversifying monetization.

This includes everything from generating revenue through live streaming to working with affiliates to promote their work to international audiences.

Musicians and DJs can also earn money by sharing their skills and creating tutorials and courses to help aspiring artists achieve their ambitions.

Indeed, the number of ways to make money as a DJ continues to expand as new platforms and technology enter the music space.

This nexus of revenue streams will become more than just a trend, significantly reshaping musicians’ business models.

9. Spatial Sound & 3D Audio

The past few years have seen many advances in technology that have reshaped the music industry and how artists approach their creativity.

Emerging technology, such as spatial sound and 3D audio, is the latest music trend in this field, leading artists to rethink their craft.

While spatial surround sound technology first emerged in 2017, its role in music production and performance has rapidly evolved in recent years.

Surround Sound’s utility for creating an immersive cinematic experience is now being innovatively applied to music, incorporating the latest AI tools.

At the forefront of this technology is its ability to track the listeners’ position in real time, accurately locating the location of their ears.

This ability enables music creators to pinpoint the sweet spot for truly effective spatial audio that cuts out interference for lifelike audio reproduction.

The result is potentially game-changing, delivering fully immersive sounds that replicate the experience of live events from the comfort of the living room.

8. Music Consumption Personalization

The continued rise of streaming services has significantly impacted the music business and how artists reach their target audience.

While there is ongoing controversy concerning how these streaming services pay artists, there’s no denying their impact on consumers.

Streaming platforms such as Spotify have reshaped how you organize your music library and discover more tracks that match your tastes.

Their algorithmic approach to refining and presenting relevant music trends has evolved to include exciting new tools that optimize the user experience.

Streaming services can now suggest similar artists and tracks based on personal playlists and cater to individual moods and activities.

They’re also incorporating powerful data analytics to deliver AI-generated playlists that blend genres, helping subscribers expand their music horizons.

Spotify’s recently launched Smart Playlists feature is representative of how these music trends will continue to reshape how consumers access content.

With the continued rise in the average hours people spend listening to music, these drives for granular personalization become increasingly refined.

7. Localization For A Global Market

The same driving forces behind monetization for creatives have a broader role in shaping future global trends and the music industry.

This is perhaps best reflected in the changing market shares of streaming services and the rise of platforms such as Tencent in China.

A driving force behind such music trends is the rise of what industry insiders are referring to as the “glocalization” of contemporary artists.

This process speaks to the phenomenon of local-based artists and international exposure, blurring the line between national boundaries and success.

Consequently, artists and music industry professionals are rethinking everything from their content to related marketing strategies.

Whether you’re a hip-hop producer from Atlanta, Georgia, or an avante-garde jazz singer from Africa, your access to digital platforms is equal.

YouTube, Spotify, and other major streaming services are leading to a previously unimagined democratization of the music business.

6. Creative Use Of Samples

The use of samples in music production emerged during the 1990s and reshaped how electronic music could be crafted in unique new ways.

With the advent of powerful mixers that allowed DJs to use samples in their sets, the concept led to a revolution in what could be achieved in a live set.

While sampling is hardly a new innovation, emerging trends are taking this tried-and-trusted approach to creativity in new directions.

The use of samples is deeply integrated into the use of stem separation for DJing, effectively allowing for instantaneous sampling in DJ sets.

Everything from vocals and drums to synth stabs and effects can be extracted from music and remixed in fresh and spontaneous recuts.

At the same time, samples drawn from daily life that capture the activities of the modern world are also finding their way into DJing and production.

This new and sometimes radical approach to samples also plays a role in staying relevant as a DJ and delivering fresh, innovative DJ sets for audiences.

5. New Live Performance Technology

One of the biggest challenges DJs and musicians face in the realm of live performance is delivering gigs that stimulate the audience in innovative ways.

Over the past decade, several notable music trends have emerged in this sphere, notably through advancements in visual technology.

At the forefront of these trends are augmented reality and virtual reality, both of which have sought to merge visuals with music for complete immersion.

AR offers great potential for incorporating holographic images onto the stage or throughout the audience space in real-time.

Likewise, virtual reality opens up new potential for live events experienced from the home setting, creating virtual concert halls and venues.

It can also allow fans to explore otherwise inaccessible spaces, take them backstage, or offer insights into music studios.

Additional potential for viewers to fully customize their experience, such as choosing their viewing angle, further enhances its revolutionary potential.

With many musicians and DJs looking for the latest performance tips to capture the audience’s imagination, AR and VR are here to stay.

It’s also leading the music industry for world-class venues, with the Sphere venue in Las Vegas offering an unparalleled concert-going experience.

4. Increased Genre Blending

The best music genres for DJs have a tried-and-tested track record of delivering the goods on the dance floor, with millions of fans worldwide.

DJs and musicians alike have continually sought to push genre boundaries in new and exciting directions over the years, often with impressive results.

This approach to genre mixing remains one of the hottest music trends of our times, defined by a push toward continuing innovation and fluidity.

It’s partly influenced by the diminishing of physical borders in the music industry and driven by the increasingly easy access to world music.

As the genre boundaries that once held back music producers and artists crumble, the definition of popular music is increasingly amorphous.

Artists are increasingly exploring how styles can be used to complement one another, from jazz-infused hip-hop to folk-inspired EDM.

The rise of Afrobeats and the market growth of music from Latin America are two examples of how world music has become infused in the mainstream.

Likewise, the rapid growth in the Asian market, in tandem with Bollywood’s increased market share, is inspiring new exciting music trends.

As the trend toward an increasingly global culture of creativity continues, the fusion of genres will lead to new, previously unheard styles.

3. Resurgence Of Physical Media

While many music trends reshaping the industry revolve around emerging technology, the resurgence of physical media reflects a respect for the past.

Digital media files have many advantages in terms of accessibility and portability, but they lack the charm and tactile appeal of traditional vinyl records and CDs.

Indeed, the history of record players is deeply entwined with music and the art of DJing, offering a retro appeal that continues to endure.

For music lovers, they offer a chance to collect music in a way that respects what has come before and appreciates the art of design that digital files lack.

On the other hand, musicians and producers can increase their income through the sale of limited edition records and CDs that fans appreciate.

Even cassettes, which lack the fidelity of vinyl and CDs, have become an integral component of the collections of dedicated music lovers.

This ongoing resurgence of physical media has transcended time to blend a desire for nostalgia with an eagerness to hear new music in a traditional context.

With sales of vinyl records projected to reach over $3 billion by 2032, this music trend is not going to slow down any time soon.

2. Rise Of Social Media Stars

The role of social media in DJing has evolved at a rapid pace, with many DJs blowing up from social media and gaining millions of new fans overnight.

Social media usage continues to rise throughout the Western world and in new emerging markets in South Asia, Africa, and elsewhere.

As such, it has quickly become the go-to medium for new artists, musicians, and DJs to reach their target audience instantly without a budget.

Its potential for creating overnight sensations through virality is hard to overstate, transforming minor artists into international celebrities with ease.

This process is also radically transforming the nature of the music industry, which has previously served as a gatekeeper to fame and fortune.

Now, artists, DJs, and musicians who demonstrate impressive talent are able to get their content heard without worrying about being signed to a label.

Conversely, industry professionals have been forced to take a proactive approach to talent scouting that goes beyond tracking artists at local gigs.

Thanks to social media’s inherent nature as a form of communication, it’s a powerful tool for artists and DJs to build personal and professional networks.

1. Artificial Intelligence & Music Production

The power of artificial intelligence has been embedded in the future of music for the past few years, with new developments reshaping its role.

AI has been at the heart of streaming services and the powerful algorithms used to help drive relevant content toward their subscribers.

Its role is set to impact the music production process in new, intriguing ways, notably through the launch of AI-powered music plugins.

While there are ethical questions that many creatives are concerned about, there’s no doubt that such tools have potentially revolutionary implications.

AI-powered music plugins can automate a range of processes, from simplifying and streamlining workflows to mixing and mastering tracks.

It can also assist with the technical aspects of production and be incorporated into the composition and arrangement of music.

While this is not likely to replace musical talent, it will be a powerful tool for genuine artists to create content more efficiently.

Summary

The role of emerging technologies, social media platforms, and streaming services have continued to impact how musicians and DJs achieve success.

Understanding how to use these music trends effectively is vital for creatives to stand out from the competition and reach the audience they deserve.

Through a process of trial and error, artists can refine their processes and foster great habits that help them navigate an ever-changing, complex landscape.