2024 delivered a year of innovation, notable comebacks, and key developments that shaped the music industry. Here’s a review of the year’s defining stories.

1. Legal Challenges in Music

This year, the music industry saw major legal developments. The Department of Justice pursued Live Nation-Ticketmaster over alleged monopolistic practices in live entertainment. Drake filed a lawsuit against his label’s parent company, citing alleged favoritism toward Kendrick Lamar. Miley Cyrus faced a copyright dispute regarding her hit “Flowers,” sparking further discussion about the balance between inspiration and originality. Additionally, legal actions clarified how artists’ music could be used in political campaigns.

2. Artificial Intelligence in Music

The rise of AI in music production and performance generated intense debate. Major labels initiated lawsuits against AI companies for using copyrighted material without authorization. Advances in synthetic voice technology, including a controversial AI-generated duet between Bing Crosby and BTS’s V, highlighted both the promise and the challenges of AI in music.

3. Vinyl’s Continued Growth

Vinyl sales broke new records in 2024, solidifying its role in music culture. Limited-edition releases, such as Taylor Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) and Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, became sought-after collector’s items, while interest in vintage audio equipment surged.

4. Streaming Industry Shifts

Streaming platforms faced significant changes this year. Universal Music Group temporarily withdrew its catalog from TikTok over royalty disputes, later reinstating it after negotiations. Spotify introduced policies that de-monetized underperforming tracks, prompting criticism from independent artists. Meanwhile, TikTok encountered scrutiny from U.S. regulators, with ongoing discussions about its future in the market.

5. A Record Year for Live Music

Concerts and tours reached unprecedented heights in 2024. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour set a record as the highest-grossing tour in history, exceeding $2 billion in revenue and boosting local economies. Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour crossed the billion-dollar mark, making them the first band to achieve this in a single tour. Adele and The Weeknd also delivered standout performances that drew massive audiences worldwide.

6. 2024’s Top Artist

Taylor Swift dominated 2024 with her April release, The Tortured Poets Department. The introspective, 31-track album, featuring collaborations with Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, broke streaming records and drove exceptional engagement on Genius. Nearly all tracks surpassed one million pageviews, demonstrating the album’s widespread appeal.

The lead single, “Fortnight,” a synth-pop collaboration with Post Malone, resonated with listeners. The music video, portraying Swift under clinical observation as she reflects on lost love, received critical acclaim.

Other artists also made their mark in 2024. Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft included the hit single “Lunch,” sparking widespread cultural conversations. Sabrina Carpenter rose to prominence with a string of successful summer hits, and Kendrick Lamar and Drake remained key figures in hip-hop, delivering new releases and collaborations including SZA and Kodak Black.