All Songs Considered

The year in review, 2025

December 2, 2025

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  • The consensus among the hosts of *All Songs Considered*'s "The year in review, 2025" is that 2025 was an "absolutely great" or "outstanding" year for music, particularly in the deep middle and for new artists, despite some perceived underperformance from top-tier pop releases. 
  • The year 2025 was marked by significant cultural and political events impacting music, including the Trump administration's takeover of the Kennedy Center and the highly publicized Sean Combs trial. 
  • Major musical milestones included Bad Bunny's genre-bending album release, Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance solidifying his feud victory, and the success of the *K-pop Demon Hunters* soundtrack, alongside a notable trend of veteran artist reunions. 

Segments

2025 Year in Music Overview
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(00:01:01)
  • Key Takeaway: The All Songs Considered panel generally viewed 2025 as an unusually great year for music, especially in the ‘deep, wide, and not very well-defined middle,’ though some felt the top 1% of pop releases were lacking.
  • Summary: The hosts debated whether 2025 was an unusually great, bad, or typical year for music, leaning toward great, particularly for quieter releases and new artists. Blockbuster albums were noted as not always landing as expected. Future episodes were announced to cover best songs and albums starting December 9th.
Bad Bunny’s January Blockbuster
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(00:03:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Bad Bunny’s January release, Devitir más votos, was a genre-bending, ambitious album paying homage to traditional Puerto Rican rhythms and was immediately considered a major contender for Album of the Year.
  • Summary: The album incorporated salsa, plena, and bomba rhythms mixed with modern styles, honoring both the island diaspora and New York. Bad Bunny maintained his presence throughout the year, including a Tiny Desk performance and being named the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer.
Kendrick’s Super Bowl Victory Lap
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(00:05:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance served as a ‘victory lap’ following his definitive win in the 21st-century rap feud, culminating in him winning Record and Song of the Year at the Grammys for ‘Not Like Us’.
  • Summary: The performance was considered relentless but highly effective, with his Marco boot cut jeans outfit noted as incredible. Kendrick also had a massive hit with ‘Luther’ featuring Sizza, an inescapable R&B earworm.
Kennedy Center Political Takeover
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(00:06:20)
  • Key Takeaway: In February, the Trump administration fired the Kennedy Center board and installed Donald Trump as chair, leading to fallout including artist cancellations and guitarist Yasmin Williams performing as a form of protest.
  • Summary: Richard Grinnell was named interim president, and artists like Ben Folds, Renee Fleming, Issa Ray, Rihanna Giddens, and Hamilton Cass pulled out of performances. Yasmin Williams faced heckling during her performance but proceeded to honor her commitment to the venue.
Grammys and Gen Z Pop Rise
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(00:09:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The February Grammys marked a significant moment for Beyoncé finally winning Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter, alongside a strong showing for the new generation of pop artists like Chappell Roan, Dochi, and Sabrina Carpenter.
  • Summary: The Grammys ceremony was noted as unusually enjoyable due to strong performances from emerging artists. Kendrick Lamar also swept awards, taking home Record and Song of the Year for ‘Not Like Us’ the weekend after his Super Bowl show.
Veteran Artist Reunions and Returns
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(00:11:47)
  • Key Takeaway: 2025 saw a ‘golden age for reunions’ with major comebacks from veteran acts like Alabama Shakes and Pulp, demonstrating that streaming makes it easier for older music to find new and existing audiences.
  • Summary: Alabama Shakes announced a reunion tour in February, and Rilo Kiley also performed live after a long hiatus. Pulp released their first album in 25 years, and Sugar returned with new music, proving veteran artists can still puncture the current musical din.
First Quarter Album Releases Noted
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(00:13:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The first quarter of 2025 featured significant releases from established artists including Lady Gaga, Japanese Breakfast, FKA Twigs (Eusexua), and Sharon Van Eten (Attachment Theory).
  • Summary: The hosts briefly listed several major albums released early in the year alongside Bad Bunny’s debut. Sharon Van Eten’s performance following her album release was described as thrilling, with her having become a ‘rock idol.’
Losses of Music Legends in Q1
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(00:14:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The first quarter saw the passing of several influential figures, including Roberta Flack, Roy Ayers, Marianne Faithful, Bill Fay, and the highly influential filmmaker David Lynch, who was a great caretaker of music.
  • Summary: Roberta Flack received widespread recognition for her genius in her final years, which was noted as a positive aspect of legacy acknowledgment. David Lynch’s loss was described as crushing due to his musical sensibility and curation.
‘Sinners’ Film Music Phenomenon
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(00:17:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Ryan Kugler’s original vampire film, Sinners, became a massive cultural phenomenon in the second quarter, with its original music, including ‘I Lied to You’ by Miles Caton, becoming an Oscar contender.
  • Summary: The film was praised for artfully telling the story of the blues, featuring Buddy Guy, and offering a profound meditation on what has been taken from Black American music. The sequence featuring Miles Caton was highlighted as one of the most memorable film moments of the year.
‘K-pop Demon Hunters’ Success
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(00:20:49)
  • Key Takeaway: The animated Netflix film K-pop Demon Hunters launched an authentic pop culture phenomenon, with its songs, particularly ‘Golden,’ dominating charts and serving as a major gateway into K-pop for many fans.
  • Summary: The film, featuring fictional groups Huntrix and Saja Boys, was a word-of-mouth sensation that generated unanimous joy and praise. The song ‘Golden’ was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year, and the vocal performance by songwriter E.J. sparked extensive online reaction.
Sean Combs Trial Impact
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(00:24:33)
  • Key Takeaway: The Sean Combs trial, which began in May, revealed the extent of his power in the industry, but testimony suggested that societal attitudes toward sexual assault regarding powerful figures have regressed since the Me Too movement’s peak.
  • Summary: Cassie Ventura and Kid Cuddy testified during the trial, which dominated headlines through the summer. Combs was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking in July but convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution.
Musicians’ Mental Health Conversation
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(00:28:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The cancellation of Billy Joel’s tour following a fall, linked to a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus, fueled a growing conversation about the lack of accessible mental health structures for even highly successful musicians.
  • Summary: The Billy Joel documentary, Billy Joel and So It Goes, offered a profound look at his lifelong struggles with depression. This conversation is expected to continue with the Bruce Springsteen biopic, highlighting the need for better mental health care access for artists.
Live Music Economics Crisis
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(00:32:08)
  • Key Takeaway: 2025 was a grim year for the economics of live music, with major acts like Garbage canceling tours due to rising costs, squeezing out working artists who rely on touring income after streaming revenue cuts.
  • Summary: Shirley Manson stated that bands can no longer afford to tour, despite filling stadiums, exacerbating the financial squeeze on artists. Issues like airlines requiring musicians to buy extra seats for instruments further complicated touring logistics.
Ozzy Osbourne’s Final Show and Legacy
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(00:34:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Ozzy Osbourne played his final concert on July 5th, seated due to Parkinson’s, and passed away shortly after, marking the end of an era for the heavy metal icon and reality TV star.
  • Summary: The final concert allowed Osbourne to bask in the love of his fans, echoing the positive trend of elders receiving appreciation while alive. The third quarter also saw the loss of Sly Stone and Brian Wilson.
Connie Francis TikTok Revival
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(00:36:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Connie Francis experienced a massive viral moment with ‘Pretty Little Baby’ on TikTok shortly before her death, illustrating how digital archives allow elders to receive intergenerational appreciation.
  • Summary: This phenomenon highlights a positive aspect of technology, allowing young fans access to a vast archive of music. This revival occurred in the third quarter, shortly before her passing.
Pop Album Trajectories and Silos
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(00:38:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Anticipated pop albums, such as Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend and Lorde’s record, often experienced intense first-week interest followed by a rapid drop-off in conversation, reflecting fractured audiences and chart competition from legacy acts.
  • Summary: Sabrina Carpenter maintained success with a number one single, ‘Manchild,’ and a performance at the Grand Ole Opry, but the overall zeitgeist felt less dominated by pop phenomena than in 2024. Artists like Addison Rae and Conan Gray demonstrate large fan bases existing in silos, often not reflected on mainstream charts.
Rosalía’s Lux as Album of the Year
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(00:56:46)
  • Key Takeaway: Rosalía’s album Lux was declared Album of the Year by multiple hosts for exceeding expectations and for her commendable artistic choice not to make the complex work easily digestible for the audience.
  • Summary: Rosalía’s rollout included a gorgeous listening party that framed the album’s operatic and thematic depth, encouraging listeners to work to understand its layers. This approach contrasts with the trend of easily consumable music in the current algorithmic landscape.
Lilith Fair Documentary and Revival
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(00:47:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The September release of the Lilith Fair documentary, Building a Mystery, coincided with a revival of interest in the era, highlighted by Sarah McLachlan’s new album and the influence of that sound on contemporary artists like Muna.
  • Summary: The documentary revealed the tour’s diversity, including Missy Elliott’s first tour, challenging the perception that it was only ‘sappy’ singer-songwriter material. The revival is timely as women across genres, including blues guitarists like Grace Bowers, are firmly claiming visionary roles.