LiveNation’s CEO Thinks Big Outdoor Concerts Will Return To The US This Summer

It was around mid-March of 2020 that the first shelter-in-place orders were issued in the United States. That was almost a year ago now, and the future of the live music industry is still uncertain. LiveNation seems to think, though, that they will be able to host large, mostly full concerts this summer.

CEO Michael Rapino said during Live Nation’s Q4 2020 earnings call last week that “a clear outline to a 75 percent to 100 percent” is likely to go forward, noting that 75-plus-percent capacity shows in large US markets are “within sight.” He also noted, “We might have certain states that might not be ready, but we have enough states and enough artists willing to play the open slots if we get to that level in the right markets. So as long as these states open up to the right capacities, we can start in midsummer and in the southern US we can go all the way into November.”

As for shows at a lower capacity, that doesn’t seem to be in LiveNation’s plans, as Rapino said, “[We] have not, to date, done a lot of work in the 0-percent to 50-percent capacity business. We don’t see that as a viable model to ramp back up [considering the] fixed cost.”

This news comes just about a week after Boston Calling decided to cancel its event this year for the second year in a row, so it remains to be seen if other events will follow suit or if LiveNation’s optimism is shared by others.

All The New Albums Coming Out In March 2021

Keeping track of all the new albums coming out in a given month is a big job, but we’re up for it: Below is a comprehensive list of the major releases you can look forward to in March. If you’re not trying to potentially miss out on anything, it might be a good idea to keep reading.

Friday, March 5

  • A Day To Remember — You’re Welcome (Fueled By Ramen)
  • Adult Mom — Driver (Epitaph Records)
  • Alex Bleeker — Heaven On The Faultline (Night Bloom Records)
  • The Anchoress — The Art Of Losing (Kscope)
  • Andrew Bird and Jimbo Mathus — These 13 (Thirty Tigers)
  • Arab Strap — As Days Get Dark (Rock Action/Best & Fairest)
  • Barbarossa — Love Here Listen (Memphis Industries)
  • Bernice — Eau De Bonjourno (Telephone Explosion)
  • Charles Ellsworth — Honeysuckle Summer (Burro Borracho Records)
  • Charlie Peacock — Trout Creek Ranch (Twenty Ten Music)
  • Chevelle — NIRATIAS (Epic Records)
  • Daniel Kehoe — Disco Body Buzz (Tin Angel)
  • Decent Criminal — DC EP (Sell The Heart Records)
  • Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats — Unlocked 1.5 EP (Loma Vista)
  • Dodie — Build A Problem (The Orchard)
  • Dreamshade — A Pale Blue Dot (Horang Music)
  • The Drive — Can You Feel It (RCA)
  • Elizabeth And The Catapult — Sincerely, E (Compass Records)
  • Field Works — Cedars (Rollercoaster Records)
  • Fruit Bats — The Pet Parade (Merge Records)
  • Gabrielle — Do It Again (BMG)
  • Genesis Owusu — Smiling With No Teeth (Ourness)
  • G.S. Schray — The Changing Account (Last Resort)
  • The Horrors — Lout EP (Wolf Tone)
  • Ian Sweet — Show Me How You Disappear (Polyvinyl)
  • Jay Gonzalez — Back To The Hive (Middlebrow Records)
  • Jaz Elise — The Golden Hour EP (In.Digg.Nation Collective)
  • Jessy Rose — Are You Home? EP (Killing A Friend)
  • John-Robert — Healthy Baby Boy, Part 1 (Nice Life Recording Company/Warner Records)
  • John Sharkey III — Shoot Out The Cameras (Mistletone Records)
  • Judith Hill — Baby, I’m Hollywood (Regime Music Group)
  • Juliet Quick — Glass Years EP (Substitute Scene Records)
  • Kings Of Leon — When You See Yourself (RCA Records)
  • Leon III — Antlers In Velvet (Monosonic)
  • Mere Women — Romantic Notions (Poison City)
  • Oliver Jean And April March — Palladium EP (Third Man Records)
  • Painted Shrines — Heaven And Holy (Woodsist)
  • Pat Metheny — Road To The Sun (Modern Recordings)
  • Quintin Copper & Nas Mellow — Paradise (Sonar Kollektiv)
  • Soul Station — Now And Then (UMe)
  • Postdata — Twin Flames (Paper Bag Records)
  • Ron Gallo — Peacemeal (New West Records)
  • The Spill Canvas — Conduit (Pure Noise Records)
  • Spirit Award — Lunatic House (Share It Music)
  • Steve Almaas — Everywhere You’ve Been (Lonesome Whippoorwill)
  • Thirdface — Do It With A Smile (Exploding In Sound Records)
  • Thomas Blondet & Steven Rubin — Sea Songs EP (Rhythm & Culture Music)
  • Tigers Jaw — I Won’t Care How You Remember Me (Hopeless Records)
  • Various Artists — Coming 2 America (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Def Jam Recordings)
  • William The Conqueror — Maverick Thinker (Chrysalis Records)
  • Zara Larsson — Poster Girl (Epic Records)

Friday, March 12

  • Allie Crow Buckley — Moonlit And Devious (Night Bloom Records)
  • Baby Boys — Threesome (Transgressive Records)
  • Blackmore’s Night — Nature’s Light (earMUSIC)
  • Cactus Flowers — Solace EP (People.Parties.Places)
  • Cameron Knowler & Eli Winter — Anticipation (American Dreams Records)
  • Charles Lloyd & The Marvels — Tone Poem (Blue Note Records)
  • Chez Kane — Chez Kane (Frontiers Music)
  • Colin Miller — Hook EP (Oof Records)
  • Cool Ghouls — At George’s Zoo (Melodic/Empty Cellar)
  • DeeCRACKS — Serious Issues (uhfrecords)
  • Dollar Signs — Hearts Of Gold (Pure Noise Records)
  • Do Nothing — Glueland EP (Exact Truth)
  • Electric Jalaba — El Hal / The Feeling (Strut Records)
  • Flo Chase — Toi (Dull Tools)
  • Haerts — Dream Nation (Rix Records/The Orchard & Humming Records)
  • Hanalei — Black Snow (A-F Records)
  • The Horrors — Lout EP (Wolf Tone/Virgin Music Label & Artist Services)
  • Israel Nash — Topaz (Loose Music)
  • Issa — Queen Of Broken Hearts (Frontiers)
  • Jaialai — As Sweet As It Was EP (Super Music Group)
  • James Levy — Soldier (Side Hustle Records)
  • Joel Gabrielsson — Citadel EP (Jivvär Records)
  • Jordan Hart — Only Pieces Of The Truth EP (Believe)
  • Justin Courtney Pierre — An Anthropologist On Mars (Epitaph Records)
  • Kelly McFarling — Deep The Habit (self-released)
  • Lake Street Dive — Obviously (Nonesuch)
  • Leanne Betasamosake Simpson — Theory Of Ice (You’ve Changed Records)
  • Louisahhh — The Practice Of Freedom (He.She.They)
  • Mike Dillon — Shoot The Moon / Suitcase Man / 1918 (Royal Potato Family)
  • Minutian — Magical Thinking (Inverse Records)
  • Neil Frances — Stay Strong Play Long (Ninja Tune)
  • Nubiyan Twist — Freedom Fables (Strut)
  • Ocie Elliot — Slow Tide EP (Nettwerk)
  • The Paper Kites — Roses (Nettwerk)
  • Pet Needs — Fractured Party Music (Xtra Mile)
  • Perfume Genius — Immediately Remixes (Matador)
  • Pino Palladino and Blake Mills — Notes With Attachments (New Deal/Impulse)
  • Raissa — Herogirl EP (Zelig Records/Columbia)
  • Reza Safinia — Yin (Terrorbird)
  • Rob Zombie — The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Conspiracy (Nuclear Blast)
  • Ronnie Atkins — One Shot (Frontiers)
  • Saga — Symmetry (earMUSIC)
  • Selena Gomez — Revelación EP (Interscope)
  • Somni — Somni Presents: Up Too Early Volume 2 (Friends of Friends)
  • Stepney Sisters — Stepney Sisters (Alcopop)
  • Valerie June — The Moon And Stars: Prescriptions For Dreamers (Fantasy Records)
  • The Vices — Looking For Faces (Mattan Records)
  • Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno — Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno (Free Dirt Records)

Friday, March 19

  • 24/7 Diva Heaven — Stress (NOISOLUTION)
  • Alex Somers — Siblings (Travelling the Groove Records)
  • Alex Somers — Siblings 2 (Travelling the Groove Records)
  • Alice Phoebe Lou — Glow (self-released)
  • American Culture — For My Animals (HHBTM Records)
  • Bass Race — Tender Vittles (Northern Transmissions)
  • Becca Mancari — Juniata EP (Captured Tracks)
  • Bell Orchestre — House Music (Erased Tapes Records)
  • Blanketman — National Trust EP (PIAS)
  • The Blue Stones — Hidden Gems (Entertainment One)
  • The Bones Of J.R. Jones — A Celebration EP (Technicolour)
  • Chad Vangaalen — World’s Most Stressed Out Gardener (Sub Pop)
  • Chinah — Feels Like Forever (The Orchard)
  • Colin Miller — Hook EP (Chess Club Records)
  • Dad Sports — I Am Just A Boy Leave Me Alone !!! EP (Grand Jury Music)
  • Daniel Lanois — Heavy Sun (Maker Series)
  • David Olney — Whispers And Sighs (Schoolkids Records)
  • Deniz Cuylan — No Such Thing As Free Will (Hush Hush)
  • Frances Luke Accord — Sunnyside EP (Two-Dale Records)
  • Gentlemen’s Dub Club — Down To Earth (Easy Star Records)
  • Greg Skaff — Polaris (SMK Jazz)
  • Guapdad 4000 and Illmind — 1176 (Paradise Rising)
  • Harry Connick Jr. — Alone With My Faith (Verve)
  • Jane Inc. — Number One (Telephone Explosion)
  • Janet Simpson — Safe Distance (Cornelius Chapel Records)
  • Jon Batiste — We Are (Verve)
  • Lana Del Rey — Chemtrails Over The Country Club (Interscope Records/Polydor Records)
  • Lo Talker — A Comedy Of Errors (Arts & Crafts)
  • Michael Feuerstack — Harmonize The Moon (Forward Music Group)
  • Michigander — Everything Will Be OK Eventually EP (C3 Records)
  • Middle Kids — Today We’re The Greatest (Domino)
  • Mint Julep — In A Deep & Dreamless Sleep (Western Vinyl)
  • Morgan Wade — Reckless (Thirty Tigers)
  • New Bums — Last Time I Saw Grace (Drag City Records)
  • Nik Bärtsch — Entendre (ECM Records)
  • Nitin Sawhney — Immigrants (Outcaste Records)
  • The Oddness — Distant Voices EP (Eskimo Recordings)
  • Otzeki — Now Is A Long Time (Akira Records)
  • Palm Ghosts — Lifeboat Candidate (Becky Warren)
  • Real Numbers — Brighter Then EP (Slumberland Records)
  • Riley Pearce — Love And Other Stuff EP (Nettwerk)
  • Rivals — Sad Looks Pretty On Me (Smart Punk Records)
  • Ronna Reason — Ronna Reason EP (Damaged Disco)
  • Safety — Greetings from The Sunshine State EP (Jetsam-Flotsam)
  • Serj Tankian — Elasticity EP (Alchemy Recordings)
  • Show Me The Body — Survive EP (Loma Vista)
  • The Snuts — W.L. (Parlophone)
  • Souleye — Hunting Teardrops (self-released)
  • Special Request — DJ Kicks (K7)
  • Steve Gulley And Tim Stafford — Still Here (Crossroads Label Group)
  • Sting — Duets (Universal Music Group)
  • Stoner Control — Sparkle Endlessly (Sound Judgement)
  • Tearjerker — Deep End EP (Bombshell Radio)
  • Tunnelvisions — End Of Time EP (Forced Exposure)
  • Vallens — In Era (Hand Drawn Dracula)
  • Vegyn — Like A Good Old Friend EP (PLZ Make It Ruins)
  • Veronica Swift — This Bitter Earth (Mack Avenue Records)
  • William Doyle — Great Spans Of Muddy Time (Tough Love Records)
  • Ziggy Alberts — Searching For Freedom (Alberts & Co. Music)

Friday, March 26

  • 24kGoldn — El Dorado (Columbia)
  • Afternoon Bike Ride — Skipping Stones EP (Friends of Friends Music)
  • AJR — OK Orchestra (Bmg Rights Management)
  • The Alex Leach Band — I’m The Happiest When I’m Moving (Mountain Home Records)
  • Anna Fox Rochinski — Cherry (Don Giovanni Records)
  • The Antlers — Green To Gold (ANTI‐)
  • Band Of Spice — By The Corner Of Tomorrow (Scarlet Records)
  • Ben Howard — Collections From The Whiteout (Island Records)
  • Black Light Smoke — The Early Years (Cut Mistake Music)
  • Blind Faith — Closer EP (Wormholedeath)
  • Brigitte DeMeyer — Seeker (BDM Music)
  • Carrie Underwood — My Savior (Capitol Records Nashville)
  • Citizen — Life In Your Glass World (Run For Cover Records)
  • Clark — Playground In A Lake (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Clever Girls — Constellations (Egghunt Records)
  • Cujo Moon — Bridges II EP (Tone Tree Music)
  • David Olney & Anana Kaye — Whisper And Sighs (Schoolkids Records)
  • Death For Above 1979 — Is 4 Lovers (Universal Music Canada)
  • Dntel — The Seas Trees See (Morr Music)
  • Dr. Lonnie Smith — Breathe (Blue Note Records)
  • El Michels Affair — Yeti Season (Big Crown Records)
  • Esther Rose — How Many Times (Father/Daughter Records)
  • Evanescence — The Bitter Truth (BMG Rights Management)
  • The Eye Of Time — Acoustic II (Denovali Records)
  • Fitz — Head Up High (Elektra)
  • Floatie — Voyage Out (Exploding In Sound Records)
  • Frankie & His Fingers — Universal Hurt (SubFamily Records)
  • Fretland — Could Have Loved You (Soundly Music)
  • Grande Royale — Carry On (Sign Records)
  • The Holy Brothers — My Name Is Sparkle (Regional Records)
  • Jackson Scribner — Jackson Scribner (State Fair)
  • Janina Jade — Heart Of Rock N’ Roll (GMR Music Group)
  • Jess Locke — Don’t Ask Yourself Why (Dot Dash)
  • Joe Strummer — Assembly (Dark Horse Records)
  • John Smith — The Fray (Thirty Tigers)
  • Josh Carter — The Hideout Sessions (Pravda Records)
  • The Juliana Theory — A Dream Away (Rude/Equal Vision Records)
  • Kalbells — Max Heart (NNA Tapes)
  • Magnet Animals — Fake Dudes (Rarenoise Records)
  • Mike Clerk — The Space Between My Ears (Wardlaw Music)
  • Minor Moon — Tethers (Ruination Record Co./Whatever’s Clever)
  • The Mobile Homes — Trigger (Wild Kingdom Records)
  • Naoko Sakata — Dancing Spirits (Pomperipossa Records)
  • Neil Young — Young Shakespeare (self-released)
  • Nisa — Guilt Trip EP (Terrorbird)
  • Noga Erez — Kids (City Slang)
  • Odd Dimension — The Blue Dawn (Scarlet Records)
  • Play Dead — Skint EP (Blitzcat Records)
  • Real Estate — Half A Human EP (Domino)
  • Revoltone — For The Silent Voices (Secret Entertainment)
  • Sara Watkins — Under The Pepper Tree (New West Records)
  • Sarah Jerrom — Dream Logic (ECM Records)
  • Serpentwithfeet — Deacon (Secretly Canadian)
  • Simon Provencher — Mesures EP (Michel Records)
  • Solstice Rey — Sunday, Someday (Get Better Record)
  • Stepson — Help Me, Help You (SharpTone Records)
  • Tim Cohen — You Are Still Here (Bobo Integral)
  • Tune-Yards — Sketchy (4AD)
  • Various Artists — Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Soundtrack: Seven Evil Exes Edition (ABKCO)
  • Xiu Xiu — Oh No (Polyvinyl)

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Nick Jonas Anchored An ‘SNL’ Edition Of The ‘Dionne Warwick Talk Show’

Dionne Warwick has become everyone’s favorite auntie on Twitter. The legendary singer has graced her growing social media fan base with phenomenal content that ranges from poking fun at the young generation of artists to seeking knowledge about them as well. All in all, it’s been a joy to watch Warwick work through the Twitter world and it was only a matter of time before Saturday Night Live emulated her personality on the show, something the cast did during their most recent episode.

Setting up the stage for her daily show, Ego Nwodim played the role of Warwick for the Dionne Warwick Talk Show. The sketch began with Kenan Thompson, who appeared dressed as The Weeknd in his current After Hours plastic surgery look. She asked him about his apparent plastic surgery addiction, confusing his “love” for it as the basis of his “Can’t Feel My Face” track.

Warwick quickly rushed him off stage and invited Nick Jonas, who hosted and performed on the SNL episode, to replace him. The comical questions continued as she asked Nick, who is currently a coach on The Voice, how he could be a more boring contributor to the show than fellow coach John Legend. Warwick also mixed up him with his fellow Jonas brother, Joe, before asking Nick a daring question about his manhood.

The sketch continued with an appearance from Dua Lipa, played by Melissa Villasenor, who agreed to join Warwick in egging Wendy Williams’ house. Lastly Machine Gun Kelly, played by Pete Davidson, joined to close the show, but Warwick was extremely disturbed by his look and quickly asked him to leave.

You can watch the sketch above.

Dua Lipa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Nick Jonas Gave Debut Performances Of ‘Spaceman’ And ‘This Is Heaven’ On ‘Saturday Night Live’

It’s been nearly five years since the pop world received an album from Nick Jonas. His last effort was 2016’s Last Year Was Complicated and since then, the singer has been fairly busy thanks to his role as a coach on The Voice and the reunion of Jonas Brothers with siblings Joe and Kevin. Now, Nick is getting back to his solo career, a return that began with the release of “Spaceman” this past Friday. Just days later, he brought his talents back to the Saturday Night Live stage to perform the single for the first time and to debut a new track as well.

Serving as host and musical guest for the SNL episode, Nick began the night by performing “Spaceman.” He performed the track while rocking a thin astronaut-like jumpsuit, ideal for the out-of-this-world feeling he details on the song. Later in the show, he returned to debut a brand new single, “This Is Heaven.” This track is much livelier than the aforementioned single and found Nick getting lost in the groove of the uplifting song to end the night

Both songs will appear on his upcoming album, Spaceman, which is set for a release on March 12. During a recent interview on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music show, Nick spoke about the meaning behind the album’s title. “The key for me was trying to find a way to give this idea a persona, give it a name,” he said in regards to his 2016 album, Last Year Was Complicated. “So ‘Spaceman’ kind of came into my mind as I was thinking, ‘What’s the one thing that all of us have felt during this time? Completely disconnected from the world.’ We’ve gotten so accustomed to looking at a screen instead of human interaction and I think the thing that keeps us all encouraged and hopeful is the idea of knowing that there will be a tomorrow when this is our reality.”

You can watch the performances above.

Spaceman is out 3/12 via Island. Pre-order it here.

J. Balvin Returns Home To A Barrio In Medellin For The ‘Ma’ G’ Video

J. Balvin made an appearance tonight to walk boxer Canelo Alvarez into the ring for his fight against Avni Yildrim at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. And what better walkout music for Alvarez than a brand new song from the Latin pop superstar? Balvin performed his new single “Ma G” before the fight for the first time, and a video to accompany the new song dropped shortly after, check that out above.

It’s good to see the Latin legend in good spirits and good health again, as last summer he contracted a bad case of Coronavirus and had to spend some time in recovery. Though he bounced back in time for a partnership with McDonald’s last fall, and has apparently been busy in the studio based on the new music tonight. This is the first thing the Colombian star has released since his 2020 collaboration “Un Dia (One Day)” with Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy.

Along with the new music, Balvin also announced a merch collection that’s a collaboration with 747 and La Plaga Invade, including a varsity jacket, mask, cap, hoodie, sweatpants, and music bundles. Shop that collection here and look out for more info on Balvin’s fifth album coming very soon.

Jewelry Designer Lorraine Schwartz and Beyonce Created A Scholarship For Black Gemologists

Beyonce has always been the kind of pop star who is interested in giving back to the communities she’s been a part of or benefits from. So when jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz, who has been responsible for plenty of Bey’s red carpet gem-laden looks, decided to began advocating for diversity and inclusion in the precious gems world, it’s no surprise that Beyonce would be a part of it.

As announced via Beyonce.com, the singer and designer are teaming to launch the Beyonce Knowles-Carter x Lorraine Schwartz scholarship at GIA, the Gemological Institute of America. Schwartz has designed jewelry for everyone from Oprah to Lady Gaga to Jennifer Lopez, but Beyonce fans will probably know her work best for the diamond earrings the singer wore on the cover of Dangerously In Love.

“This scholarship is an homage to Beyonce for the inspiration she’s given me through my career,” Schwartz said of the new initiative. “It’s about the love formed from relationships and knowing at the end of the day, we are all the same. Now I have the opportunity to bring that inspiration full circle and show the community the endless possibilities that are in this industry, especially for Black professionals.”

The scholarship will be give “two members of the Black community” the chance to earn credentials at GIA, for the GIA Graduate Gemologist Diploma, with full tuition and paid expenses for the program. The program is primarily online through distance education, and applications for the scholarship are open from March 1 of this year until March 16.

Check out more information on here.

Tinashe’s ‘I’m Every Woman’ Cover Is A Towering Homage To The ’70s Classic

As part of a new project with ESPN’s The Undefeated, Tinashe has released a cover of the classic empowerment anthem “I’m Every Woman.” First popularized by Chaka Khan in 1978 — it was the lead single off her debut album Chaka — the track was later popularized in the ’90s by Whitney Houston, who turned it into more of a pop hit than the original funk and disco vibe.

Tinashe has obviously heard both versions of the song, and seems to pull from both artist’s legacies in her own version, working in funk and disco alongside itchy house beats, but including plenty of dramatic belting that’s rare for the R&B star’s vocal style. Dramatic belting doubles as an ode to Whitney whenever it’s done well, and Tinashe pulls it off with surprising ease here. Last year she spoke to us about bringing live shows into people’s living rooms during the pandemic, this year, she’s catapulting herself into the realm of disco and funk with a truly superb cover. Check out the song above.

Other artists involved in The Undefeated’s Music For The Movement Volume II project, a part of Black History Always, also includes offerings like Tobe Nwigwe’s take on Melvin & The Blue Notes’ (Featuring Teddy Pendergrass) “Wake Up Everybody,” Brent Faiyaz contributing an original new song, “Eden,” and Freddie Gibbs doing Gil Scott Heron’s “Winter In America.” The first EP, Music For The Movement Volume I, featured Rapsody, Jensen McRae, Terrace Martin, Alex Isley, Robert Glasper, and Keedron Bryant.

Hear Two New Chloe X Halle Songs On The ‘Chrome Edition’ Of ‘Ungodly Hour’

Last night Chloe X Halle dropped the video for “Ungodly Hour,” the title track off their massive 2020 breakout album. But that wasn’t the only thing they had in store for fans. Since the pandemic has made it impossible for musicians to tour their work, plenty are opting to release a deluxe or revamped version of their records from last year. Chloe X Halle have dubbed theirs the “Chrome Edition” of Ungodly Hour, and dropped the new version tonight. This edition includes two new tracks from the sisters Bailey, and the songs hew a lot closer to gothic pop than the smoldering R&B of the rest of the album.

Not that there aren’t hints of this kind of power on “Tipsy,” but “Hazy” and “80/20” take on an even more confident, swaggering feel — there’s no shying, loved-up narrator on these tracks. Instead, braggadocio and dark beats pepper the new songs, which are ripe for remixes too. And though it’s not fair to constantly compare Chloe and Halle to their mentor, Beyonce, these two songs in particular are reminiscent of some of the more bossed up work she’s been drawn to, especially later in her career. For this duo to already be at that place of extreme confidence at this age? Now that’s the power of a mentor. Check out “Hazy” above and “80/20” below.

How Has The Music Industry Evolved In 10 Years?

From the rise of the internet, to political and social issues creating a more self-aware society, it’s safe to say that the world has experienced extraordinary shifts in the past 10 years.

Keeping this in mind, it’s not surprising that the music scene would also undergo changes in more ways than one. Each year, music’s biggest hits have carried a distinct style of production which becomes widely emulated, or a theme echoing hot-button topics of conversation. Additionally, industry advancements such as streaming and album bundling have changed the way music is consumed. And of course, social media places the power in the fans’ hands, helping to distinguish who tops the charts.

Ready to take a trip down memory lane? Read on as we look back at some of the biggest music trends and industry changes of the last decade.

2011

In 2011, the sounds of electropop — a hodge-podge of pop, EDM, techno, and dubstep — wash over the industry. Ordinarily viewed as just the “sound guys,” EDM producers Calvin Harris and David Guetta garner top billing with collaborations like Chris Brown’s “Yeah 3X” and “Titanium” featuring Sia. Pop stars like Pitbull and Britney Spears keep fans on the dance floor with EDM-tinged hits “Give Me Everything” and “Til The World Ends.” Kanye West, Jay-Z, and duo LMFAO also combine the electronic sound with their hip-hop and rap-heavy work, evident by Watch The Throne’s “I Can’t Stop” and LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem.”

In addition to getting people moving, pop music carries conceptual introspection during this time. This year not only births Adele’s stunning 21, but self-love anthems “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga and “Raise Your Glass” by Pink. Rap — which continues to rise in popularity amongst teens and college-students — also features songs about complex emotions (Lil Wayne’s “How To Love”), pushing through adversity (Lupe Fiasco’s “The Show Goes On”), and life challenges (Diddy-Dirty Money’s “Coming Home”).

2012

In a near-180 from the previous year, alternative rock and indie pop reigns supreme. Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” is the year’s best-selling song, and the band Fun dominates critically and commercially with their album Some Nights, lead by “We Are Young.” Neon Trees, Bon Iver, Alabama Shakes, and Mumford and Sons break new ground with their respective projects and accolades.

Internet virality (a trend which won’t be uncommon in the years to come) also goes to new heights. “Somebody That I Used To Know” sees a slew of covers and music video parodies upon its release, while Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” becomes an internet sensation. South Korean artist PSY’s “Gangnam Style” is so popular, it results in a change to how songs are considered for Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Per the Harvard Business Review, tracking “listens” through YouTube videos now factors into the chart’s ranking methodology.

2013

In 2013, top-notch production is the name of the game. Hit tunes are balanced between show-stopping sounds (Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Thrift Shop,” Avicii’s “Wake Me Up”), nostalgic instrumentation (Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” Bruno Mars’ “Treasure”), and minimalist stylings (The Lumineers’ “Ho Hey,” Lorde’s “Royals”).

This year also marks the beginning of the end for digital singles and iTunes in favor of streaming, and emphasis on “vintage” ways of buying music (vinyl), which decreases the importance of CDs and pure album sales. Per Billboard, “digital track sales fell 5.7 percent from 1.34 billion units to 1.26 billion units, while digital album sales fell 0.1 percent to 117.6 million units from the previous year’s total of 117.7 million.” Non-traditional album and CD merchants like Starbucks, Urban Outfitters, and Amazon see an increase to 36.5 million units sold, in comparison to the dwindling sales of indie merchants (a drop of nearly 12 percent).

2014

While empowerment pop has always been popular, uplifting themes of self-confidence carry 2014. Children and adults enjoy songs that make them feel seen and accepted for who they are. Kids gravitate to Despicable Me 2’s “Happy” (performed by Pharrell Williams), while members of the LGBTQ+ community christen a new anthem with Ariana Grande’s “Break Free.” Taylor Swift’s new pop-heavy sound also provides a message for haters: “Shake It Off.”

Songs about body positivity are also popular. The surprise drop of Beyoncé’s fifth studio album in winter 2013 gives listeners a new catchphrase for 2014 — “I Woke Up Like This” from her song “***Flawless.” Nicki Minaj and pop star Megan Trainor drop songs about pride in their prominent posteriors with “Anaconda” and “All About That Bass.”

2015

Electronic dance music is taking over the scene again. This time, a recognizable characteristic — the drop — is center stage. This sudden change in sound or rhythm is central to hit songs both by EDM-leaning producers (Major Lazer’s “Lean On,” DJ Snake’s “You Know You Like It,” Calvin Harris’ “How Deep Is Your Love”), and pop stars (The Weeknd’s “I Can’t Feel My Face,” Demi Lovato’s “Cool For The Summer,” Zara Larsson’s “Never Forget You”). The trend continues into 2017.

This year also kicks off the re-emergence of viral dance crazes, which continues into 2021. Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson steal the show with “Uptown Funk,” while Drake becomes a meme for his moves in “Hotline Bling.” Silento’s “Watch Me (Whip, Nae Nae)” and iLoveMemphis’ “Hit The Quan” become fixtures on and offline.

2016

Dancehall and Caribbean-inspired tracks are a mainstay in 2016 pop. While Justin Bieber’s “Sorry” was released at the tail-end of 2015, it is the biggest song of 2016, per Billboard. Drake leans into this craze with his hits “One Dance” and “Too Good.” The latter is a collaboration with Bajan musician Rihanna, who drops a whine-inducing ditty, “Work,” also featuring Drake.

Additionally, Ariana Grande, Sia, and Clean Bandit create hit songs with island flavor: “Side To Side,” “Cheap Thrills,” and “Rockabye,” respectively. This trend continues until at least 2019, however, as conversations of cultural appropriation of Black music heat up, these sounds taper off. Per The Observer, modern dancehall music has always been appropriated. Reggae/dancehall superstar Sean Paul says in the interview: “It is a sore point when people like Drake or Bieber or other artists come and do dancehall-orientated music but don’t credit where dancehall came from and they don’t necessarily understand it.”

2017

R&B/hip-hop surpasses rock music as the most-listened to genre on the planet, per Nielsen Music. Its supremacy becomes exceedingly evident in 2017 with the takeover of the trap sound—classified by heavy bass, atmospheric sound and brash attitude. Migos, Future, and Rae Sremmurd’s popularity soars with trap hits “Bad And Boujee,” “Mask Off,” and “Black Beatles,” while social media superstar Cardi B breaks the mold with her major-label debut single, “Bodak Yellow.” Soundcloud-style trap rap, which employs a more ethereal, trippy sonic inspiration, is found in Post Malone’s “Congratulations” and Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO Tour Life.” The trend continues into 2018 with Juice Wrld’s “Lucid Dreams.”

Given a tepid national climate, songs featuring socially-conscious and self-aware themes become popular. Rapper Logic’s experiences with depression prompt him to pen the rap/sung collaboration “1-800-273-8255,” which increased calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by more than 30 percent. Alessia Cara, a featured artist on Logic’s song, releases her self-love anthem “Scars To Your Beautiful.” Kesha drops “Praying” in the hopes that the abused and their abusers can heal. The song was written in response to the alleged sexual assault and emotional abuse she’s experienced at the hands of producer Dr. Luke.

2018

Due to the success of Luis Fonsi’s monster hit “Despacito” the year prior, it’s no surprise that Latin pop and hip-hop completely command the airwaves in 2018. J. Balvin’s “Mi Gente” and Camila Cabello’s “Havana” were released in 2017 and continue to have chart success this year. Cardi B’s Latin-heavy rap track “I Like It” hits No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, while Becky G, Marc Anthony, Will Smith, and Bad Bunny drop “Mala Mia” and “Esta Rico,” respectively.

2018’s crossover collaborations also find unexpected success. Zedd and Maren Morris’ ‘The Middle” receive Record and Song of the Year nominations at the 61st Grammy Awards. Florida Georgia Line and Bebe Rexha’s “Meant To Be” hits No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart, and DJ Snake’s “Taki Taki” featuring Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and Ozuna reaches one billion streams on Spotify.

2019

The theme of 2019 is that…there is no theme. Genreless music — sounds that fit an artist’s mood, vibe, or idea without boundaries or confines — encapsulates the music world. Newcomers Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X shatter expectations with “Bad Guy,” (an electropop, hip-hop-flavored dance track) and “Old Town Road” (a record-breaking country trap hit). Music superstars Ariana Grande and Tyler The Creator also take part in the sonic shattering. Her song “7 Rings” pairs Broadway with trap, while his song “Earfquake” combines R&B, hip-hop, and soul.

Self-love anthems also make major comeback, and highlight the various levels of self-acceptance. Panic! At The Disco’s “High Hopes” is about self-confidence. Self-love and exploration is the base for Selena Gomez’s “Lose You To Love Me” and Ariana Grande’s “Thank U Next,” which was popular in 2018 as well. Through her album Because I Luv You, Lizzo proves that spreading positivity is her M.O.

2020

Nothing captures 2020 in music quite like social media’s reign over the charts. TikTok, a popular video creation app, is the place for viral dance crazes to take over. Routines to Doja Cat’s “Say So” and Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage” boost their popularity, while the dedication of Internet stans catapults Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s “Rain On Me” and BTS’ “Dynamite” to the top of the charts.

Despite strict social distancing rules in the age of COVID-19, dancefloor-ready tunes are an undeniable trend. Dua Lipa rules the year with her album Future Nostalgia, and “Say So” carries palpable ’70s-inspired energy. Other disco-tinged hits include Jessie Ware’s “Remember Where You Are,” Kylie Minogue’s “Say Something,” and Victoria Monet’s album Jaguar.

2021

There haven’t been too many distinguishing music trends as of late. (Especially since it feels like we’re still in 2020.) However, it appears that budding music stars are about to make their mark.

Since the beginning of 2021, singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo’s song “Drivers License” has been on top of the charts, and “Mood” by 24kGoldn and Iann Dior has held the second seed position for several weeks. Relative newcomers may also find success if they continue to collaborate with major stars, such as singer-songwriter Jhay Cortez with “Dakiti” (his collaboration with Bad Bunny), and rapper Yung Bleu with “You’re Mines Still” (his link-up with Drake).

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Post Malone Covered A Hootie And The Blowfish Classic For His ‘Pokémon’ Partnership

The Pokémon franchise is commemorating its 25th anniversary this year; While Pokémon Red and Blue, the first games released in the US, came out stateside in 1998, the original Japanese games, Red and Green, were released in 1996. Anyway, part of the celebration has included collaborating with Post Malone on a couple things. Malone is performing a virtual concert for Pokémon Day this weekend, but ahead of that, he has released a new cover tied to the partnership: a rendition of the Hootie And The Blowfish classic “Only Wanna Be With You.”

Malone keeps the cover mostly stylistically faithful to the original version, and even though the song doesn’t have any clear preexisting connection to Pokémon, Malone has turned in a fun recording nonetheless. He slightly tweaked the lyrics, shifting the focus of one line from the Miami Dolphins to his favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys, as he sings, “I’m such a baby ’cause the Cowboys make me cry.” Longtime Pokémon fans may have also noticed that the song has a sample from the second-generation Game Boy/Game Boy Color games Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal, specifically the music that plays in Ecruteak City.

Darius Rucker, who of course sang and co-wrote the ’90s classic, is over the moon about Malone’s rendition, tweeting of it this morning, “The smile in my face will not leave for a long time. This is awesome. My bro @PostMalone bringing it. Hell yes man!!!!!!!!!”

Listen to Malone’s rendition of “Only Wanna Be With You” above.