Some say cultural or societal events affect music, so we will go through the years and see what is going on, the music that was popular and see what you think regarding this.
CULTURAL, SOCIETAL AND MAJOR EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN 2015
Cultural:
Caitlyn Jenner’s coming out: Increased visibility for the transgender community.
Adele’s “25” album: Record-breaking sales and significant cultural impact.
“Hamilton” on Broadway: Diverse hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton becomes a phenomenon.
Taylor Swift’s 1989 World Tour: Highest-grossing tour by a female artist.
Drake’s “Hotline Bling”: Viral song with catchy beat and unique style.
Societal:
Legalization of same-sex marriage in the US: Major victory for the LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Black Lives Matter Movement: Gains momentum in response to police brutality.
Refugee Crisis: Millions displaced by conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa.
Me Too Movement: Encourages survivors of sexual assault and harassment to share their stories.
Other:
Paris Attacks: Coordinated terrorist attacks kill 130 people.
Nepal Earthquake: Devastating earthquake kills over 9,000 people.
Volkswagen Emissions Scandal: Major impact on the automotive industry.
TOP 40 SONGS OF 2015
- Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- See You Again – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
- Trap Queen – Fetty Wap
- Sugar – Maroon 5
- Lean On – Major Lazer & DJ Snake ft. MØ
- Good for You – Selena Gomez ft. A$AP Rocky
- Want to Want Me – Jason Derulo
- Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd
- Bad Blood – Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar
- Stitches – Shawn Mendes
- Style – Taylor Swift
- Earned It – The Weeknd
- Locked Away – R. City ft. Adam Levine
- What Do You Mean? – Justin Bieber
- Wildest Dreams – Taylor Swift
- Hotline Bling – Drake
- Take Me To Church – Hozier
- Marvin Gaye – Charlie Puth ft. Meghan Trainor
- Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix) – OMI
- Shut Up and Dance – Walk The Moon
- Same Old Love – Selena Gomez
- Love Me Like You Do – Ellie Goulding
- FourFiveSeconds – Rihanna, Kanye West & Paul McCartney
- G D F R (God Didn’t Forget) – Flo Rida ft. Sage The Gemini & Lookas
- Shut Down – Beyoncé
- Hey Mama – David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj & Bebe Rexha
- No One Ever Tells You – John Mellencamp
- Like I’m Gonna Lose You – Meghan Trainor ft. John Legend
- Uptown Funk (Mark Ronson Remix) – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
- Worth It – Fifth Harmony ft. Kid Ink
- I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
- Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
- Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
- Blank Space – Taylor Swift
- Problem – Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea
- Fancy – Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX
- Chandelier – Sia
- Royals – Lorde
- Uptown Funk (Original Mix) – Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
TOP ALTERNATIVE AIRPLAY SONGS OF 2015
- Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon
- Renegades – X Ambassadors
- Ex’s & Oh’s – Elle King
- Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men
- Ho Hey – The Lumineers
- Pompeii – Bastille
- I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
- Centuries – Fall Out Boy
- Stressed Out – Twenty One Pilots
- Want to Want Me – Jason Derulo
TOP ROCK AND ROLL SONGS 2015 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
- The Less I Know the Better – Tame Impala
- Stressed Out – Twenty One Pilots
- Centuries – Fall Out Boy
- Renegades – X Ambassadors
- Do You Know Who You Are? – The Killers
- Heavy Is the Head – Editors
- Footsteps – Royal Blood
- Throne – Bring Me the Horizon
- Jenny – Nothing More
- Failure – Breaking Benjamin
Other notable rock songs of 2015:
- Run Away with Me – Carly Rae Jepsen
- Coming for You – The Black Keys
- Don’t Wanna Fight – Alabama Shakes
- I Bet My Life – Imagine Dragons
- The Otherside – Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Drown – Bring Me the Horizon
- Unsteady – X Ambassadors
- I Am the Fire – Halestorm
TOP CHRISTIAN ROCK SONGS OF 2016 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
- Soul On Fire – Third Day
- Flawless – MercyMe
- Holy Spirit – Francesca Battistelli
- Shoulders – for KING & COUNTRY
- Because He Lives (Amen) – Matt Maher
- He Knows – Jeremy Camp
- Rise – Skillet
- The River – Jordan Feliz
- Speak Life – tobyMac
- I Will Trust – Fred Hammond feat. BreeAnn Hammond
Other Notable Christian Rock Songs of 2015:
- No Turning Back – Brandon Heath Feat. All Sons & Daughters
- Not Forgotten – Ryan Stevenson
- Volcano – Rapture Ruckus Feat. Jonathan Thulin
- Save My Life – Sidewalk Prophets
- Brother (feat. Gavin DeGraw) – NEEDTOBREATHE
- Young Diaries – Ilia
- Overcomer – Mandisa
- Jesus Saves – Tasha Cobbs
- War – Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago
SOME COMMON THEMES IN SONGS OF THE 2015 BILLBOARD HOT 100
Love and Relationships:
Romantic love: Many songs focused on romantic love, from the celebratory “Uptown Funk” and “Thinking Out Loud” to the more introspective “Want to Want Me” and “See You Again.”
Breakups and heartbreak: Songs like “Bad Blood,” “Style,” and “Stitches” explored the pain and anger of breakups.
Self-love and empowerment: “Can’t Feel My Face” and “Good for You” spoke to themes of self-acceptance and independence.
Personal Struggles and Overcoming Adversity:
Anxiety and depression: “Hotline Bling” and “Take Me To Church” addressed themes of anxiety and depression, resonating with many listeners.
Overcoming adversity: Songs like “Stressed Out,” “Centuries,” and “Rise” offered messages of hope and resilience in the face of challenges.
Social issues: “Trap Queen” and “G D F R” touched on themes of poverty and social inequality, while “Shut Up and Dance” celebrated individuality and self-expression.
Party and Celebration:
Upbeat and danceable tracks: Songs like “Uptown Funk,” “Sugar,” and “Lean On” were perfect for parties and celebrations, reflecting the desire for fun and escape.
Celebration of life and youth: Tracks like “Good for You” and “Want to Want Me” celebrated the joys of youth and living life to the fullest.
Nostalgia and Retro Influences:
Throwbacks to past musical styles: “Uptown Funk” and “Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)” incorporated elements of funk and disco, while “Take Me To Church” and “Ho Hey” carried folk and blues influences.
Reminiscing about past relationships: “Thinking Out Loud” and “Wildest Dreams” conveyed nostalgic feelings about past love experiences.
Additional themes:
Motivation and self-improvement: Songs like “Want to Want Me” and “Stressed Out” encouraged self-improvement and taking control of one’s life.
Materialism and wealth: Songs like “Trap Queen” and “G D F R” highlighted the desire for wealth and material possessions.
Body image and self-confidence: Songs like “Bad Blood” and “Good for You” explored themes of body image and self-confidence.
These are just some of the common themes found in the 2015 Billboard Hot 100. The music of 2015 reflected a wide range of human experiences and emotions, with something for everyone to connect with.
MOST POPULAR MUSIC GENRES OF 2015
Dominant Genres:
Rock: With an estimated 29% share of the music market, rock remained the most popular genre in 2015. This included a wide range of subgenres like alternative rock, pop rock, and hard rock.
R&B/Hip Hop: This genre saw a significant rise in popularity, capturing approximately 22% of the market share. It encompassed various styles like mainstream hip-hop, R&B ballads, and trap music.
Pop: While facing competition from other genres, pop still maintained a strong presence with around 15% of the market share. This included both mainstream pop and more alternative pop styles.
Other Significant Genres:
Country: Country music continued to hold a dedicated fanbase, claiming around 11% of the market share.
Dance/EDM: Electronic dance music experienced a surge in popularity, particularly in clubs and festivals, with an estimated 3.4% share.
Christian/Gospel: This genre resonated with a dedicated audience, holding around 3.1% of the market share.
Additional Observations:
Genre Blending: Artists increasingly experimented with blending different genres, creating crossovers that appealed to wider audiences.
Technology and Streaming: The rise of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music significantly impacted music consumption, making diverse genres more accessible.
Regional Preferences: Genre popularity varied across different regions, with certain genres holding stronger positions in specific areas.
While rock and R&B/Hip Hop maintained their dominance in 2015, the genre that experienced the most significant growth in popularity was EDM (Electronic Dance Music).
Estimates suggest that EDM’s market share increased from around 2.5% in 2014 to roughly 3.4% in 2015. This represents a significant jump, demonstrating the genre’s growing appeal and influence.
Several factors contributed to EDM’s rise in popularity:
Rise of DJ Culture: DJs like David Guetta, Calvin Harris, and Martin Garrix gained mainstream recognition, drawing large crowds to their live sets and festivals.
Crossover Hits: Tracks like “Uptown Funk” and “Lean On” incorporated EDM elements into their sound, introducing the genre to a wider audience.
Streaming and Accessibility: Streaming services made EDM music more accessible to a global audience, allowing listeners to discover and explore various artists and subgenres.
Festival Scene: The popularity of music festivals like Coachella and Electric Daisy Carnival provided platforms for EDM artists to connect with fans and highlight their music.
While other genres like R&B/Hip Hop also saw notable growth, EDM’s surge in popularity was particularly significant in 2015, making it the genre with the most remarkable increase in mainstream appeal.
2015 was a unique year in music, marking a transition point between the dominance of traditional genres like rock and the rising popularity of streaming-driven genres like hip-hop and EDM.
Several factors contributed to this shift:
Technological Disruption:
Streaming Services: Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music changed how people consumed music, allowing for instant access to vast libraries and personalized recommendations, leading to genre exploration and diversification.
Social Media: Platforms like YouTube and Instagram gave artists and independent labels unprecedented reach, allowing them to build fan bases and bypass traditional gatekeepers.
Changing Consumer Preferences:
Genre Blending: Artists increasingly experimented with blending genres, creating unique sounds that appealed to broader audiences than traditional genres.
Shorter Attention Spans: The rise of streaming and short-form content consumption led to a demand for shorter, more instantly catchy songs.
Focus on Individuality: Listeners increasingly sought unique and authentic music that reflected their individual tastes and identities.
Specific Genre Shifts:
Hip-Hop: Streaming made it easier for independent artists and regional styles to gain exposure, leading to a diversification of hip-hop and its rise to the top of the charts.
EDM: The festival culture and rise of superstar DJs like David Guetta and Calvin Harris brought EDM into the mainstream.
Rock: While still a popular genre, rock’s market share declined as younger audiences gravitated towards newer sounds.
These factors combined to create a more diverse and dynamic musical landscape in the years following 2015. Traditional genres continue to exist and evolve, but new trends and technologies have opened the door for a wider range of artists and sounds to reach wider audiences.
It’s important to remember that musical trends are constantly evolving, and what may be popular today could be different tomorrow. However, 2015 stands out as a year that marked a significant turning point in the music industry, paving the way for the diverse and genre-fluid landscape we see today.
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