Music trends predictions for 2025—from sonic branding to 2000s pop

If you thought the music scene was already buzzing, hold on to your headphones—’cause 2025 is about to drop some serious beats! From throwback 2000s pop to darkwave loops and mind-bending 3D audio, the trends coming our way are sure to make your ears perk up.

This coming year, artists will mix the familiar with the futuristic, the dark with the dazzling, and the human with the high-tech. Whether you’re a creative chasing your next viral video soundtrack or a video editor seeking fresh sounds for a client project, there’s no doubt that 2025 is set to serve up some ear-catching tracks and trends.

Ready to soundtrack your 2025? let’s dive into the top music trends set to dominate the airwaves this coming year!

Do you know that catchy little tune that plays whenever you open a familiar app or watch your favorite TV show? That’s called sonic branding, and it’s taking over. In 2025, brands are no longer just about logos and taglines—they’re also crafting soundscapes that stick in your head like that song you can’t stop humming. 

So, what is sonic branding, and why is it blowing up? As our lives become more screen-heavy, brands need new ways to stand out. Sonic branding offers a new opportunity for brands to express their identity through music. 

“In a cluttered media landscape, sonic branding is becoming increasingly important,” says Envato’s creative director, Luke Hawkins. “It allows brands to create something catchy and memorable and make people feel something.” 

Companies like Netflix and McDonald’s boast some of the best-known sonic branding—who isn’t familiar with Netflix’s iconic “dum dum” power-up sound or Macca’s  “I’m loving it” jingle? These audio identities are instantly recognizable, and they’re not just a marketing gimmick—they’re a way to forge a deeper emotional connection with audiences. 

While big brands have been following the sonic branding trend for years, smaller brands and businesses are following suit this year, too. Envato even recently partnered with New York producer K. Sparks to create a sonic logo as part of our 2024 rebrand. The logo features an impressive 120 layers of audio, including a basketball swoosh, a popping balloon, a match strike, a car driving by, a sudden intake of breath, and more—and we think it’s pretty sound!

Expect to hear more brands investing in custom soundtracks, jingles, and sonic branding as they try to carve out their space in the crowded online landscape. Who knows? By the end of the year, you might even be singing along to your favorite brand’s sonic logo!

Start crafting your own sonic branding with sound effects from Envato, like this swoosh, match strike, and intake of breath!

Darkwave is back and moodier, broodier, and more atmospheric than ever. If you’re unfamiliar, this subgenre of new wave music blends gothic rock, post-punk, and a dash of electronic beats to create darkwave loops as haunting as they are hypnotic—so listen up.

Whether it’s the allure of retro sounds or the growing popularity of darker aesthetics in pop culture, darkwave is having a moment—and the trend is gaining momentum. Bands like Drab Majesty and Boy Harsher lead the charge, bringing their eerie tech-inspired vibes to the forefront of the music scene.

“In recent years, we’ve seen several musical trends emerge: retro wave, cyberpunk, and most recently, phonk—each inspired by 80s synth music,” says K. Pietras of Envato’s Red Octopus. “Now, we’re witnessing another evolution with darkwave. This iteration is a darker, more pop-infused sound, often featuring vocals. It’s not just a passing fad but a fluid progression of 80s synth music, as classic synthesizers remain beloved by musicians. For those looking ahead, the question is: what synth style will Darkwave evolve into next? Time will tell, but for now, let’s embrace the rise of darkwave.”

Also encompassing sub-genres like neoclassical dark wave, dark Fantasy, and dark ambient, the darkwave genre is evolving and attracting new influences, styles, and fans. In 2025, we expect it to grow even more, with artists, brands, and creatives embracing the darkwave aesthetic. 

Keen to turn the clock back? Check out some of these retro royalty-free sounds! Or, dive into this trend with this darkwave track, this 80s neon-drive beat, or this darkwave post-punk track from Envato.

Grab your low-rise jeans and flip phones because 2000s pop is making a major comeback. We’re talking about that glittery, bubblegum sound that defined an era—think Britney Spears, NSYNC, and all the sugary pop goodness you secretly (or not-so-secretly) loved.

But why is this trend resurfacing now? Nostalgia, baby! The early 2000s were a simpler time, and as we move forward, people look back with rose-colored glasses. Artists like Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan are all tapping into that Y2K energy with a modern anti-design twist, paying homage to the catchy hooks and feel-good vibes that made the genre so addictive.

2000s pop is the perfect soundtrack for those looking for a throwback to simpler, more sparkly times, so expect to hear more 2000s-inspired tracks topping the charts in 2025.

Get the Y2K vibe with this retro pop track from Envato!

Nowadays, TikTok is the go-to platform for discovering new artists and fast-tracking the hottest tracks, with viral hits launching careers and dominating the charts faster than you can say “For You Page.”

But what makes TikTok songs so popular? It’s all about the bite-sized, catchy clips users can’t get enough of. Whether it’s a beat drop accompanying a dance challenge or an acapella hook that gets stuck in your head, TikTok can turn obscure sounds into mainstream anthems—and some are actually making it to the charts!

Remember the iconic TikTok trend, “man in finance”? What started as a silly 20-second clip by TikTok user @girloncouch has now been remixed by David Guetta, catapulting the original creator into the spotlight. Similarly, a viral TikTok video of a girl harmonizing with her kitchen fan almost immediately became an online sensation, spurring many remixes, covers, and additional trends. These are just two examples of how TikTok can turn a viral video into everything from an iconic ballad to a certified banger.

“TikTok has become a disrupter for multiple industries—book publishing, search discovery, restaurant review—but it’s impacted the music industry the hardest,” says Hannah Copeland, Envato’s TikTok trends expert. “With the stand-off between Universal Music Group and TikTok earlier this year, it’s clear that TikTok is generating a ton of money in the music industry—so much that it’s fight-worthy! In 2025, we can expect artists and their teams to implement a TikTok-first marketing strategy as the industry standard, with influencer partnerships to create and promote dances and trends specific to new releases.”

In the coming year, we’ll see even more artists create music specifically with TikTok in mind. The platform’s influence is only growing, with comedy creators like Millie Ford even dropping tracks getting radio play after going viral. Even pop star Zara Larsson has also recently seen the benefits of a viral (and pretty unhinged) trend featuring one of her older songs, giving her a massive boost in awareness and revenue. She even embedded the trend into her live performances! It’s TikTok’s world—we’re just living in it!

Ready to create the next viral hit? Try remixing trending TikTok sounds with this EDM track or this lo-fi beat, or create your own with this TikTok sound from Envato!

Who says you have to stick to one genre? In 2025, music is all about mixing things up—blurring the lines between genres and creating something entirely new. From country-punk mashups to rap-country collabs, artists are breaking down the barriers of traditional music categories.

“This trend is a mixture of blending multiple genres into something new, but also artists who traditionally stick with one genre suddenly putting out songs in another,” says Envato music specialist Mark Brodhuber.

Why the sudden love for genre-bending? Today’s listeners are more eclectic than ever, craving something fresh. Artists like Jelly Roll & MGK and Post Malone & Morgan Wallen lead the charge, creating unexpected collabs that keep fans guessing. Even Beyoncé has embraced this trend, releasing a unique yet divisive country album.

As we head into 2025, expect more artists to push the boundaries and experiment with different sounds and styles. Whether it’s pop-punk with a twang or rap with a metal twist, the only rule is that there are no rules. It’s a great time to be a music fan—you never know what’s coming next!

Start bending and blending with this country hip-hop track and this summer pop-punk banger from Envato!

Move over, humans—AI is here and making its mark on the music industry. In 2025, artificial intelligence won’t just be a tool for writing copy or streamlining workflows; it will be a creative collaborator that musicians and producers can use to create more innovative tracks.

So, why is AI music trending? As technology advances, AI has become more sophisticated, able to analyze massive amounts of data to create music that sounds eerily human. Spotify’s new AI DJ is already curating playlists that feel personalized, while artists like Grimes and Holly Herndon are using AI to push the boundaries of music using a technique called “spawning.”

“Teaching AI the sonic properties of one sound to generate an entirely new sound is what I call “spawning,” says artist Holly Herndon. “This allows me to create a wide range of vocals (that I didn’t sing) from a set of recorded phrases that I did sing. I like to think of spawning as a 21st-century corollary to the musical tradition of sampling, which has had a huge impact on music and intellectual property—but far more exciting and potentially really weird.”

AI will play an even more significant role in music production in the coming year, from generating beats to crafting entire compositions. While some purists might scoff, there’s no denying that AI is opening up new possibilities for creativity—the future of music is here!

Get the AI sound with this AI track from Envato, or start playing with AI Image Gen!

Pop-punk is back, baby! If you’ve been longing for the days of angsty lyrics and power chords, 2025 is your year. Bands like Blink-182, Sum 41, and Avril Lavigne are already leading the resurgence, releasing new music and bringing back the sound that defined a generation.

It’s a genre that mixes raw emotion with glossy production, and in today’s world, people are looking for music that speaks to their feelings—while giving them something to dance to! Plus, the nostalgia factor is huge—listeners who grew up with pop-punk are ready to relive those days while a new generation is discovering the genre for the first time.

Expect to see more pop-punk bands topping the charts, with newer acts like Olivia Rodrigo and Machine Gun Kelly giving the genre a fresh twist. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newbie, it’s time to dust off those Vans and start practicing your best Tom DeLonge-inspired “Where are youuuu?”

Get the pop-punk sound with this punk track, this pop-punk song, and this happy pop-punk track from Envato!

Indie isn’t so indie anymore. In 2025, independent artists are stepping out of the underground and into the spotlight, proving that you don’t need a major label to make a major impact.

So, why are indie artists taking over? It’s all about authenticity. Today’s listeners want real music, and indie artists deliver just that. From Chappell Roan‘s monumental rise to fame—even winning Best New Artist at the 2024 VMAs—to Noah Kahan selling out stadiums, these indie artists turned global stars are connecting with audiences in a way that most mainstream acts often can’t.

“We see a collaborative support infrastructure developing across the social web that is empowering talented indie artists to rise to mainstream success,” says Jenn Anderson-Miller, CEO of Audiosocket. “We predict this journey to be further supported in 2025 by more and more media giants across various industries leveraging their massive audiences to support and break new acts. This is referenced in a recent article on TikTok’s music master plan. This evolving ecosystem is reshaping how independent artists find success on their own terms.”

Even massive pop icons like Ke$ha and The Veronicas are now going independent and carving out their paths! Expect even more indie artists to break through and take over the mainstream. 

Looking for some authentic indie tracks? Check out Closer to You, Our Last Night, and Your Eyes from PureHits on Envato.

Need to increase your focus? There’s a playlist for that. ADHD music—tracks specifically designed to help you concentrate—is a genre that’s growing in demand. Whether studying, working, or just trying to stay on task, these beats help you stay in the zone.

So, why is ADHD music on the rise? As more people juggle remote work, online learning, and the constant distractions of daily life, there’s a growing demand for music to boost productivity. These tracks are typically instrumental, with rhythms and tempos scientifically designed to keep your brain engaged without being intrusive. It’s all about finding that sweet spot where the music helps you focus without drawing too much attention to itself.

“Among the many ADHD resources available, I’ve found ADHD music to be particularly helpful,” says Envato’s social media manager, Bethany Gerrie, who has been diagnosed with ADHD. “I often have distracting, high-energy songs stuck in my head, but listening to ADHD music helps me refocus and quieten the noise. It’s great at helping me get in the zone.”

Expect this trend to grow as more artists and producers experiment with creating ADHD-friendly music. From ambient soundscapes to lo-fi beats to study to, ADHD music is evolving to meet the needs of today’s multitaskers. Whether cramming for an exam or powering through a workday, these tunes could be your new secret weapon for getting things done!

To listen to or create similar sounds, check out this lo-fi beat and this lo-fi track on Envato!

Have you ever loved a song so much that you wished you could immerse yourself in it? Now you can, literally! That’s the magic of 3D music and spatial audio, and it’s about to become a significant player in 2025. This trend isn’t just about hearing music; it’s about experiencing it in a new way, where the sound moves through space and feels like it’s coming from every direction.

Why is this trend taking off? As listeners crave more immersive experiences, 3D music, and spatial audio offer something traditional stereo tracks can’t match. The music isn’t just playing—it’s happening all around you.

Artists like Billie Eilish are already exploring this new frontier with tracks that seem to wrap around you, creating an immersive experience that only heightens the emotion—even Sony’s new WF-C510 Earbuds feature “Ambient Mode,” including 360-reality audio.

“While 3D music and spatial was mostly just a gimmick in the past, it’s been trending upwards as independent artists push boundaries to try to stand out,” says Mark. “I’m seeing more interest in people integrating these techniques into normal music to add a little flair.”

Expect more artists and producers to embrace 3D sound mapping and spatial audio, transforming their songs into an immersive sonic adventure. Whether it’s a live concert experience or a studio track, this trend is set to redefine how we listen to music in 2025 and beyond. 

Immerse yourself in this slow spatial piano, this eerie ambient spatial track, or this spatial yoga indent on Envato!

And that’s a wrap! While you’re here, check out this article on Top 10 Royalty-Free Background Music Tracks to Take Your Video Viral or how to navigate the music industry as a TikTok creator. Or, start exploring Envato’s massive audio library of music and sound effects to start creating today!