ATW Archives — Spotify

Spotify’s global editors and artist partnership teams have the pleasure of listening to new music all day, every day, to identify the hottest rising tracks and artists. Now, with the start of a new year, they’ve come together to predict which artists will make their mark in 2025 with Spotify’s annual Artists To Watch campaign.

To celebrate, they’re spotlighting a list of rising stars across various genres who are poised to shape the sound of the new year. These artists exemplify creative innovation, cultural relevance, and the future of music. They’re breaking through on our editorial playlists with unique styles that are set to define the year ahead.

To give you a taste of what’s to come, our editors selected one must-listen-to song from each artist, all of which we’ve compiled in our Artists To Watch playlist. The 35-track playlist features artists that sweep across genres and sonic influences; a true mix of solo artists and groups globally.

“Our annual ‘Artists To Watch’ list is all about spotlighting the rising stars that are shaping music culture. Last year’s list featured breakouts like Leon Thomas, Chappell Roan, and Teddy Swims, and the 2025 class is just as exciting,” said Monica Herrera Damashek, Head of Artist & Label Partnerships at Spotify. “Our editorial and artist partnerships teams join forces to build a compelling list for audiences across all genres and amplify the selected artists through marketing and editorial playlists. At Spotify, we’re committed to helping artists grow and reach new fans around the world.”

So, who should be on your 2025 radar? Keep reading for our full list of picks, categorized by genre.