The Sound of 2025: Audio's Impact on Music, Sports, and TV
Another year has gone by as quickly as the last, inevitably causing us to reminisce, revisit, and reflect. As we flip through the recaps of our most-listened-to artists and songs in 2025, we can’t help but think back on this year’s biggest highlights in pop culture—and audio’s leading role in every internet-breaking, history-defining moment. Rooted for Kendrick Lamar to win at the Grammys? We did, too. Had Sabrina Carpenter’s new album on repeat this summer? You’re singing to the choir. Can’t wait for Bad Bunny to perform at the 2026 Big Game halftime show? Neither can we.
Take a look back at all the headline-defining events of 2025 across music, sports, film, and awards shows—and how Pandora was there to capture every second.
The Hottest Music Releases of 2025
This year’s album and song releases set our playlists and queues on fire. It was a banner year for household names and up-and-coming artists alike, who set records and redefined their genres with their new tracks:
+11M spins in the two weeks after Bad Bunny’s album dropped
+758% increase in station adds the week of Sabrina Carpenter’s album release
+383% increase in station adds for Rosalía in the first week following the release of her single “Berghain”
+253% increase in station adds the week after Cardi B’s album release
How to Get in on the Action
Ride the wave with Pandora, where you can sponsor fan-favorite stations. Find Sabrina Carpenter listeners on Today’s Hits, Bad Bunny fans on stations like Reggaeton, and Cardi B and Metro Boomin lovers on stations like New Hip Hop.
Streaming Audio Influences on and off the Field
Sports and audio are closely intertwined, from fans listening to hype music to get them in the zone to tuning in to relaxing audio after a close game. Here’s how audio made its presence known in sports this year:
+5.5M spins for Kendrick Lamar after his 2025 Big Game halftime show performance
+159% increase in station adds the week after Bad Bunny was announced as the halftime show performer for the 2026 Big Game
How to Get in on the Action
Sports fans go through a variety of moods during and post-game: celebratory after a touchdown, energetic when their team is leading, anxious in the last quarter, and angsty after a major loss. Reach them in these moments (and much more) with Pandora’s mood targeting. This solution is based on music listening behavior and uses a sophisticated algorithm to reach listeners in real time. Do more than target demographics and geographics, and get personal with your messaging thanks to contextual targeting solutions like these.
From the Big Screen to the Mobile Screen
A look back on the year wouldn’t be complete without putting a spotlight on film and TV. As the red carpet was rolled out for new releases, here’s how audio shined:
+1M average weekly spins in the month of August for the film “KPop Demon Hunters”
+155K spins of “Defying Gravity” in the week following the release of “Wicked”
+452% station adds for Auli'i Cravalho and Disney the week after “Moana 2” was released
How to Get in on the Action
Many of this year’s hit films were either made for kids or kid-friendly. Families are co-listening, with movie soundtracks at the heart of these moments—becoming cultural powerhouses. It might be kids who are finding the hits, but parents are making them last. Streaming audio is a family affair, with 82% of parents co-listening to music with their children. Plus, 59% of parents co-listen to hear the music their children love.
Get in on family bonding time by reaching co-listening parents and children on Pandora stations like Pandora Kids, Fam Jams, and DISNEY. More ears = more attention on your message.
From the Red Carpet, to the Stage, to Pandora
Each year, it’s always a hot topic to see who’ll be taking home the Grammys gramophone and VMAs Moon Person for awards like Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Video of the Year, and more. In 2025, no one stood out more than multicultural artists for their accolades—leading to huge spikes in streaming audio listening.
Here’s a look at the diverse artists that swept this year’s awards shows with their wins and influence:
How to Get in on the Action
With each passing year, it rings more and more true: The consumer power of multicultural listeners can’t be emphasized enough. Collectively, AAPI, Black, and Latino consumers hold $7T in purchasing power. And for Latino audiences specifically, the entertainment industry misses out on $12-18B annually by failing to properly engage them. To effectively reach diverse consumers, ditch the one-size-fits-all approach. Use our audience targeting solutions to pinpoint your ideal audience by multicultural affinity, which goes beyond standard demographics—with segments including Black and Latino.
Music Is the Headliner at Every Festival and Concert
Year after year, the internet is abuzz with who’s going on tour and headlining upcoming music festivals, and 2025 was no different. From Coachella to Lollapalooza, these top events had listeners flooding to Pandora:
13.5M spins for Post Malone the week after headlining Coachella
+472% increase in spins for Ravyn Lenae the week of the Portola and Paradice Festivals
+47% increase in station adds after Lorde’s first week of touring
How to Get in on the Action
Pandora doesn’t just offer an online streaming audio experience, we take things IRL with our in-person events. We know our fans obsess over live music, and every year, we host the annual HBCU Homecoming Pop Out, El Pulso, and Music Row Happy Hour, reaching hip-hop, Latin, and country music lovers. It’s a win-win, listeners get memories of a lifetime and free swag, while brands get a chance to boost brand familiarity and consideration. In fact, 61% of this year’s El Pulso attendees left the event with a more positive opinion of all the sponsors who made appearances, while 83% of Kelsea Ballerini Live attendees purchased a product from one of the sponsors post-event.
Make Your Brand a Part of Pop Culture in Real Time
While we may not be able to predict next year’s biggest cultural moment or hit new music releases, we know that audio will be the common denominator. And Pandora will be here to capture every moment—the big, the major, and the record-breaking.
With us as your partner, your brand can be the all-in-one headlining act and VIP guest. Let’s chat.
