The chart-topping hits and breakthrough music artists of 2024

Transcript

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Ali Rogin: However, you listened to music this year, streaming on an app or the old fashioned way on the radio, 2024 was a year that saw breakthrough artists, chart topping hits and a return of some top tier legacy performers. Stephanie Sy takes a look at the music that had us hitting repeat this year.

Stephanie Sy: 2024 saw people flock to music festivals in growing numbers across the country to see their favorite performers and female artists took over the airwaves as well as our playlists, boosted by chart topping hits from the likes of Beyonce Supreme, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Chapel Roan and Taylor Swift.

While British pop artist Charli XCX had a breakout year thanks to her massive album Brat that took social media by storm. At the same time, the impact of AI tech this year took some by surprise, presenting a new threat to the income and livelihood of music creators.

To unpack the year in music, we’ve got Maura Johnston, a freelance music writer and critic, and Candace McDuffie, a senior writer at the Root. Maura and Candace, it’s great to see you. I hope you’ve had a good year.

Before we drill down into the big music news this year, I just want to get both of you to give your quick takes on the best music we saw in 2024. Candace, why don’t we start with you?

Candace McDuffie, Senior Writer, The Root: I think in 2024 two albums really stood out to me. One of them was Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter.” It was released I believe in March and with it she became the first black woman top Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart since the chart debuted in 1964.

There were great collaborations. She really put a spotlight on black women in country and she really broke down some barriers while having really good conversation about what it means to be a black country artist. Another album that stood out to me was Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX.”

He not only reaffirmed his position as a great, talented and just really amazing emcee, but he also wrote a love letter to the west coast and that hip hop scene as well.

Stephanie Sy: Maura, what about you? What was the best music that came out this year in your view?

Maura Johnston, Freelance Music Writer and Critic: Well, both of Candace’s picks are great. I really loved the debut full length by the British band English Teacher who are doing a sort of post punk thing.

It’s a lot of really tense, striving, sort of like desperate music with grooves and jagged guitars. Their record was called “This Could Be Texas.” And I also really loved Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” And this record was very compact, which is — which kind of flies in the face streaming era long albums. And it was also really beautiful. But it, you know, it had some of the best vocal performances of her career.

Stephanie Sy: You know, in that sort of pop genre, you also had Chappell Roan and you had Sabrina Carpenter with a lot of hits as well. I mean, how would you describe that drama? Some of it feels very throwback to me. And yet these artists are topping the charts.

Maura Johnston: Yeah, I think that, you know, there was definitely a lot of movement on the chart earlier this year with a lot of new artists and a lot of exciting songs breaking through. Chappell Roan, who, you know, her record last year, “The Rise and Fall of Midwest Princess,” that was like, top of my list last year.

You know, I think that she and Sabrina Carpenter, they I think, represented a new era where, like, pop stars could have fun again. Because there was a lot of just like po-face ness going on, I think, in pop for the past. Certainly the 2010s were like, very, very depressing. Right. I feel like there is definitely a new spirit in pop music that a lot of these artists and songs that broke through this year are representing.

Stephanie Sy: Candace, in your realm and you cover a lot of black musicians and black music. Where did you see sort of genres evolve and maybe, you know, the. The synthesis of the old and the new?

Candace McDuffie: I think Shaboozey also had a fantastic year for him to make history by tying Lil Nas X for the longest running number one single. And the history of the Billboard Hot 100 was a really big deal. And that song, “A Bar Song, Tipsy.”

It was hip hop inspired. It was the interpolation of J-Kwon’s 2004 single “Tipsy” which was a big college anthem, you know, because I’m a little on the older side.

His album “Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going,” there’s a lot of hip hop infusion on that project, and it was just so brilliantly done. So I feel like black artists and country had a lot of visibility this year, and it felt like a breath of fresh air. I think their personas and their looks and, you know, mixing all these beats was just so unpredictable and so exciting in that genre.

Stephanie Sy: I want to talk a little bit about live performance. Apparently Lollapalooza is still a thing. And of course, Taylor Swift ending her Eras Tour. For both of you, what were standout live performances? Maura?

Maura Johnston: I saw Kacey Musgraves, who had a really great record come out this year called “Deeper Well,” that I liked quite a bit. And Billie Eilish, she had a sort of in the round set where she was just this kind of ball of energy constantly. It was this rush of energy in the room. It was really special.

Stephanie Sy: That’s cool. Candace, what about you? Any live performances that stood out to you this year?

Candace McDuffie: I think Dochi had several live performances that were not only just groundbreaking in the presentation, but just went viral online. Her performance at Camp Flog Gnaw, which is a music festival in California held by Tyler the Creator, she wrapped the entire set, no backing tracks. She took her shoes off like she was just so magnetic on stage. We also saw her perform on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

And then there was the NPR Tiny Desk concert performance. It really celebrated not just blackness, but what it means to be a dark skinned black woman in this industry.

Stephanie Sy: All right, my final question, and I know would not be easy for me to answer, but favorite song of the year? Maura, you go first.

Maura Johnston: My favorite song was by this woman named Jade. She was a member of the British girl group Little Mix, and she put out her solo single earlier this year called “Angel of My Dreams.” And it’s just kind of this fever dream of pop music and house music. And her voice is fantastic, but it’s also kind of a very pointed critique of the star making system that she came out of because Little Mix was a product of the X Factor, the British TV show that also produced One Direction. And it’s one of those songs that when you listen to it closer, you’re like, oh, she’s really talking about, you know, something kind of important and almost harrowing. But yeah, it’s a great single.

Stephanie Sy: Candace, what about you favorite song?

Candace McDuffie: Megan Thee Stallion’s “Bigger in Texas.” It’s one of the best songs she’s ever made. I think the video was a beautiful ode to Houston. She looks amazing in it. Her body crazy. Makeup perfect. Like dancing around celebrating everything she’s accomplished despite everything she’s been through. And I thought it was just really a great way for her to end out the year.

Stephanie Sy: Candace McDuffie and Maura Johnston, what a pleasure. Thank you so much.

Maura Johnston: Thank you.

Candace McDuffie: Thank you.