A YEAR IN REVIEW: 2024 MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS
In 2024 we’ve seen the quality of content skyrocket, with creators continuing to grow their audiences with new, innovative strategies.
With over 500 hours of video uploaded to YouTube every minute, music and SFX have played a major role in elevating the videos we see across social media and beyond. Now that 2024 is coming to an end, let’s look back at this year’s musical highlights.
Top 5 most popular genres in 2024
- Hip Hop
- Pop
- Orchestral
- Trap
- Ambient/Chill Out
Unsurprisingly, hip-hop has taken the top spot as our most popular genre in 2024. It’s one of the world's fastest-growing genres, with Spotify reporting that nearly a quarter of all streams in 2023 were hip-hop songs.
If you’re yet to discover the power of hip-hop music in your videos, check out our vast collection of claims-free instrumental and vocal hip-hop tracks to take your content to the next level.
Top 10 downloaded albums
The soulful sounds of our lo-fi albums have stolen the show for our creators this year. Lo-fi music can create a relaxed, ambient vibe in your videos, from vlogs to Instagram Reels and everything in between.
If you’re in need of more lo-fi inspiration, check out our lo-fi study, chill & slowmo and R&B lo-fi playlists to immerse your audience in these relaxed, down-tempo beats.
Top 10 most downloaded playlists
2024 has been a year of Good Vibes and Inspiring Moments - so it’s no surprise that these playlists feature in our top 10. We’ve also seen relaxed, chilled and hip-hop playlists rising in popularity this year as creators experiment with creating different styles and moods in their content
Top 10 most downloaded tracks
As we’ve seen, lo-fi tracks have captured the hearts of our creators this year. However, we have also seen a rise in 90s dance revival and majestic orchestral music in our top 10 most downloaded tracks of 2024.
2025 and beyond
As we look ahead to the start of 2025, we’re excited to see how music continues to shape and influence the content creation landscape.
With emerging trends such as new genre fusions and the increased globalisation of the music scene, stay ahead of the curve no matter what next year brings for your creative journey. Access over 50,000 claims-free tracks and 200,000 sound effects with Universal Music for Creators - perfect for backing tracks, intros and more.
