SoundCloud’s first Music Intelligence Report uncovers the rising sounds and underground movements that are redefining the music landscape.

SoundCloud has long been the home of new sounds and underground movements. With its first-ever Music Intelligence Report, the platform has used engagement data and cultural analysis to highlight the emerging trends shaping the future of music.

By tracking likes, reposts, comments, and shares, SoundCloud has identified key music scenes gaining momentum. These insights offer a glimpse into the evolving sounds which are resonating with fans.

Image credits: SoundCloud

The top music scenes on SoundCloud

SoundCloud’s social features fuel the rise of unique communities where genres blend, and fresh styles emerge. Here are the standout music scenes that are currently taking over:

Top US scenes

  1. Plugg / Pluggnb / Rage: A core and influential hip hop movement, featuring young stars like Ken Carson, Yeat, and Destroy Lonely.
  2. Cloud rap: Defined by atmospheric beats and melodic flows, with pioneers like Lil Uzi Vert and Young Thug inspiring a new wave of artists such as Lancey Foux and LUCKI.
  3. Reggaeton: Continues to thrive globally, with streams up nearly 10% from last year. Popular artists include Bad Bunny and Karol G.

Top UK scenes

  1. UK Rap: Dominated by some of the top streaming acts in the UK like D-Block Europe and Nines.
  2. UK / Irish Dance: Mainstays in this scene include CamrinWatsin and Evan McGee.
  3. Minimal / Tech House: A growing genre with plays up nearly 70% in the UK, led by artists like Chris Stussy and Josh Baker.

Scenes to watch

Shaboozey for SoundCloud
  1. UK Garage / Bassline: Experiencing a revival, plays are up 31% in the last year and are projected to rise another 20%.
  2. Alt-country / Folk: Streams have climbed 15% over the past year, spearheaded by artists like Shaboozey and Zach Bryan. SoundCloud upload tagged #country or #folk have surged by over 50% in the past two years.
  3. Minimal / Tech House: This fusion of techno and house is resonating with fans across the world, with a 40% increase in plays in the US and 14% in Germany.

SoundCloud’s emerging music scenes

Beyond the established and rising scenes, SoundCloud continues to foster boundary-pushing sounds that blend traditional influences with a modern twist. These emerging scenes are shaping the underground while influencing mainstream music.

The next big scenes that are next-up:

Kaleidoscopic, frenetic rap

Characterized by jerk-style beats with snapping snares and chaotic-yet-mesmerizing flows. Artists like Nettspend and Xaviersobased are at the forefront, and were respectively the 62nd and 66th most popular artists in the US this past year. Impressively, this scene saw plays up 150% in the past two years.

Eclectic new indie

This new indie scene incorporates acoustic guitars, pop punk rifts, and underground hip hop influences. The diverse inspirations of this scene are reflected by the genre tagging tools of hip hop, rock, indie, folk and more across artists’ catalogues. This scene saw a 222.9% growth last year, with streams increasing by 3.5x. 

Dark, shadowy trap

A moody evolution of trap, this scene is visually and stylistically influenced by Playboi Carti and his Opium label. Streams in this scene have increased 35% in two years, with Atlanta leading the charge.

Transatlantic rap connection

UK artists are infusing their sound with US underground 2000s influences, inspired by shadowy electro-pop. Growth in this scene reached 43.99% growth last year, with clear inspirations shown through the artists tagged like #playboicarti, #kencarson, #destroylonely.

The prismatic world of trance

Trance is experiencing a resurgence, drawing from its euphoric synth roots while evolving for modern listeners. The scene is reaching new commercial heights, epitomized by Cassö’s breakout hit “Prada” which peaked at no. 2 on the UK charts. Uploads tagged #trance increased by 17% in 2023, 29% in 2024, and are projected to rise another 26% this year.

What this means

SoundCloud’s influence on emerging music trends cannot be overstated. As a platform where underground movements take roots, these rising scenes can reshape tomorrow’s mainstream music.

For artists and industry professionals alike, SoundCloud’s Music Intelligence report has uncovered the top emerging scenes on the platform. Keeping an eye on these movements is crucial, as these are the artists that will dominate streaming charts, festival lineups, and create viral moments.

You can read the full SoundCloud Music Intelligence Report here.

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