5 Music Trends To Watch Out For In 2022
With the new year shaping up to be an eventful one, here are some issues that will affect the music industry in the next 12 months.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! The holidays are over. I wish it lasted longer though. But with each passing day of the Yuletide, I was also counting down to when our community gets back to getting premium insights on Afrobeats and the music industry.
Yes, we are back!
Last year was a big year for all the stakeholders in the music industry. AfroDives community started, African music continued to soar and it won big internationally. From Justin Bieber jumping on Essence, Drake drafting in Tems on his album to Ed Sheeran wanting a leveller on Peru, 2021 was the crossover year that cemented the efforts of the previous years.
Now, 2022 is underway and given the highs of last year, expectations are once again lofty for the next 12 months. What should lovers of music expect?
Here are 5 trends to anticipate.
1. Ticking TikTok
Last year, our community was informed about how TikTok is redefining music hits and viral content. Unsurprisingly, TikTok became the most visited website in the world in 2021, unseating perennial web giant, Google. The social media young stunner continues to scale heights that other platforms can only dream of and more importantly, its influence on music will continue to grow in 2022. With its cross-cultural superpowers, expect old songs to resurface and new songs to explode.
2. Grammys
Last November witnessed another frenzy from Africans as Wizkid, Tems, Burna Boy and Angelique Kidjo, among others, bagged Grammy nominations. Not to belittle the gramophone, but what used to be a feat is fast becoming a regularity. It is an indication of the growth of the African music industry.
So, for the 2022 Grammys, Wizkid, Tems and Burna are the leading Nigerian artistes looking to land the award. Even though the award ceremony has been postponed, one thing that is inevitable is more gongs for African acts.
3. More momentum for Afrobeats
If Peru can put out an official tweet about Peru¸ there is no cap to the magic of Afrobeats. Personally, I’m looking forward to more crossovers and Afrobeats having a dedicated category at foreign awards.
Regardless of how things turn up, this year is another year to expect even more momentum for Afrobeats.
4. Who is stepping up?
The big 4 of Wizkid, Olamide, Davido and Burna are the biggest Nigerian music exports and understandably so. Their productivity, longevity, consistency, range, reach and influence are unmatched. Therefore, they deserve all the accolades coming their way.
Before 2018, it used to be the trio of Machala, Badoo and OBO, then Odogwu stepped up and started chilling with the big boys. Since then, every other artiste has been playing second fiddle.
This year is a good year to be on the lookout for another breakout superstar. Personally, I feel Adekunle Gold and Kizz Daniel have the potential to break the ceiling but it feels like they are still a step away or there is something still missing. Another candidate is the firing Fireboy; he is a fire to watch out for.
5. New stars
Portable can lay claim to being the last music act to hit the limelight in 2021, after bamboozling his way through ears and airwaves with Zazu zeh. His ascent is admirable, despite all the clutter that came with it.
This year will bring another set of stars who are probably huffing and puffing in studios at the moment.
Apart from the aforementioned, which other trend do you think we can watch out for in 2022? Let’s know in the comments.
We are yet to hit the 100-subscriber milestone. Don’t forget to share and tell others to subscribe.
Lovely to have you back. And it's really hard to disagree with your projections. I would like to think Fireboy has overtaken Gold and Vado in the pecking order tho. I believe the Ed feature on Peru rmx made sure of that. I'm hoping Vado can step into the international circle soon. I also expect Buju to build on the momentum he's got from the previous year.
However one looks at it, it's a big year for Afro-beats. 🥂 Cheers to the greatness we're about to witness!
Number 3 is so interesting to read! I'm happy for Fireboy!