SoundCloud insights show how underground scenes become global movements
SoundCloud’s 2026 Music Intelligence report highlights the increasingly social nature of music discovery, and that growing scenes continue to defy genres and borders.
SoundCloud has released its latest Music Intelligence report, building on last year’s, which identified which music scenes were gaining momentum. This year, the report gives an update on how those young scenes have matured and developed, as well as analysing interaction that signals which scenes are just about to form.
Most trend reports let you know what’s been happening, which genres have been performing well, which scenes have been formed. SoundCloud’s focus on interactivity and social music discovery means that the platform is able to report on what’s been happening, what is happening, and what’s about to happen next in music.
Metrics like comments, follows, and reposts represents early fan behaviour that points to scenes forming before they’ve been categorised or commercialised anywhere else. Last year’s report identified emerging scenes like “Eclectic New Indie” and “UK Underground Rap”, which have since stepped more into the mainstream.
Now, the latest Music Intelligence report from shows how those early signals have translated into real growth. It reinforces the idea that movements are not born on charts, but built through community interaction.
Scenes are expanding beyond genre labels
A key takeaway this year is that scenes are evolving faster than rigid genre definitions. “Eclectic New Indie”, first spotlighted in 2025, continues to grow strongly. Streams in the scene are up 2.5 times since 2023, and around 80% of its listeners are Gen Z. The scene thrives on flexibility, with artists blending indie, alternative hip hop, and experimental sounds without sticking to one lane.
Mexican reggaeton is another fast-rising movement. It merges reggaeton with trap, plugg, jerk, and regional influences. Within it, “chugg” has grown 78% year over year. This shows how local sounds can quickly gain momentum when supported by highly engaged communities.
Hard techno is also accelerating. Average BPMs now exceed 180, and US listening to hardtekk is up 75%. Faster and more intense electronic subgenres are clearly resonating with listeners.
Fans are listening more widely
The report also highlights a broader shift in listening behaviour. Fans are not abandoning their favourite genres, but they are exploring more and going beyond. This aligns with the report findings from Splice and MiDIA that fragmentation and micro trends and scenes are the future of music consumption.
According to SoundCloud, compared to 2019, listeners now spend 4% less time with their single most-played genre. At the same time, older tracks continue to hold attention. In 2025, music older than 18 months accounted for a greater share of overall listening. This suggests that discovery is not just about chasing the newest release. Depth and catalogue matter too.
Hip-Hop isn’t shrinking, it’s shifting
SoundCloud’s data shows that rather than declining, as some may suggest, hip-hop is evolving and “hybridizing”, largely thanks to Gen Z listeners and creators.
UK underground rap streams have grown 4.5 times in two years, with 85% of its audience made up of Gen Z listeners. Artists highlighted in the 2025 report have since scaled rapidly, reflecting how quickly socially connected scenes can expand. Esdeekid, a rapper with a thick Scouse accent, has seen a 70x increase in streams, and is a hit with US fans, highlighting the global reach of socially driven music discovery.
Another scene that’s tipped in this years Music Intelligence report is DMV Rap, rooted in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The scene blends Southern trap, drill, and regional influences, and streams have increased by 13% over the past year.
Social discovery is driving momentum
Towards the end of last year, SoundCloud added features that made the listening experience much more social. You can now view songs that your friends and favourite artists have been enjoying, as well as get a look at what music is trending and on the rise.
Insights from SoundClouds report reinforce how interactivity is boosted by participatory discovery. For example, listeners who play a track through another user’s “Liked By” section are over three times more likely to like, repost, or comment themselves.
What’s next?
Listeners and users on SoundCloud aren’t simply consuming music anymore – they’re actively shaping scenes, and what comes next. As the report concludes, “What’s next in music is first on SoundCloud.”
For those releasing music today, understanding how scenes form and how fans engage is crucial. Being present at the very start of the tinder of a scene igniting gives artists a better chance at fan connection, and gives listeners a deeper sense of community. Keeping music social, particularly in a fragmenting music landscape, is vital for scenes to grow and develop, and artists and fans to find each other exactly when they need to.
You can read the full 2026 Music Intelligence Report here.