The New Wave: Breakout Artists Shaping the Global Music Scene in 2025

By Rowella Michaels  | May 27, 2025

The first half of 2025 has ushered in a dynamic shift in the music industry, driven by a fresh cohort of artists redefining genres, bridging cultures, and captivating audiences worldwide. These breakout stars are not just climbing charts—they’re reshaping narratives, blending tradition with innovation, and amplifying underrepresented voices. From viral TikTok anthems to genre-defying experimentation, here are the artists dominating the conversation and setting the tone for the future of music. 

1. Gigi Perez

Gigi Perez, an American artist, primarily operates within the Indie Folk and Pop genres, known for her heartfelt songwriting and captivating performances. 

Breakout moment: In January 2025, Perez gained significant attention through her viral TikTok hits, "Celene" and "Sometimes (Backwood)". This social media momentum was swiftly followed by the chart-topping success of her single "Sailor Song," solidifying her rising fame. Further cementing her status, she was prominently featured on Spotify's annual "Artists To Watch" list for 2025. This inclusion underscored her unique style and sound, which were expected to influence the music landscape for the year ahead.

What's Next: Looking ahead, Gigi Perez has an extensive "Unreal Unearth Tour" scheduled, with dates commencing in May 2025 and extending through the summer across North and South America. This tour includes stops in major cities such as Bogotá, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and São Paulo in May, followed by numerous dates in June and July across the United States, including festival appearances at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and Lollapalooza. Her robust tour schedule indicates a significant strategic push for live performances throughout 2025, suggesting a clear focus on building and engaging a dedicated fanbase through direct interaction. While no new album release was explicitly mentioned for the Jan-May 2025 period beyond her chart-topping single, her extenive touring implies sustained momentum and potential for future recorded projects to capitalize on her growing popularity.

2. Cameron Whitcomb

Cameron Whitcomb, a Canadian singer-songwriter hailing from Nanaimo, British Columbia, is a prominent figure in the Country genre. His music is characterized by raw talent and personal storytelling, as showcased in his 2024 debut EP, Quitter, which featured the hit single "Medusa"

Breakout moment: While his debut EP predates 2025, Whitcomb's breakout status was significantly amplified and reinforced in early 2025. He was notably named to both Spotify's and Amazon Music's "2025 Artists To Watch" lists. Further solidifying his industry recognition and broader public exposure, he was globally featured on the cover of Apple Music's "Today Country" in early 2025. These endorsements from major streaming platforms signify a substantial industry push and a widespread acknowledgment of his rising profile within the specified timeframe.

What's Next: Cameron Whitcomb is gearing up for his "Hundred Mile High Tour," which represents his biggest headline run to date. This extensive tour is scheduled with numerous dates from July 2025 through October 2025, spanning across North America and Europe. The tour itinerary includes performances at iconic venues and major festivals such as the Calgary Stampede, FairWell Festival, Boots and Hearts Festival, and LASSO, indicating a strategic approach to maximize public exposure and fan engagement. In addition to his rigorous touring schedule, Whitcomb is actively working on more new music, which is expected to continue spotlighting the raw emotional honesty that defines his unique songwriting style.

3. Jordan Adetunji

Jordan Adetunji's sound is a complex fusion, primarily categorized as Melodic R&B, but also incorporating elements of Hyperpop, Drill, and US Club Music. His distinctive artistic expression is described as a "dense, futuristic kind of melodic R&B that suffocates you with intense kick patterns and heavy, lingering keys," showcasing a unique blend of diverse influences.   

Breakout moment: A definitive breakout moment for Jordan Adetunji within the January to May 2025 period was the release of his second mixtape, A Jaguar's Dream, on January 24, 2025. This release represented a monumental progression from his previous project, Rock 'N' Rave, released in 2023. Complementing this, his biggest single to date, "Kehlani" (released in 2024), achieved platinum status and accumulated over 370 million Spotify streams, leading to a remix featuring the US pop star it was named after. The continued success of this track significantly contributed to his profile well into 2025. Further solidifying his industry standing, Adetunji signed a landmark deal with 300 Entertainment and Warner Records UK and received a Grammy nomination for Melodic Rap Performance. His inclusion on Rolling Stone UK’s "Future of Music" list for 2025 further emphasized the industry's expectation of his continued success.   

What's Next: His future plans for 2025 are primarily centered around the momentum generated by A Jaguar's Dream. The mixtape features notable tracks such as "Options" (featuring Lil Baby), "Too Many Women" (featuring Kwn), and "305" (with Bryson Tiller), indicating a strategic use of collaborations to expand his reach. His prominent feature on the Rolling Stone UK list signals expectations for "big things this year and beyond," suggesting a continued focus on new releases and likely touring to support the mixtape and further establish his unique sound.

4. Chloe Qisha

Chloe Qisha is a versatile artist within the Pop genre, known for crafting "hooky, funny, pristine pop songs". Her music demonstrates a remarkable ability to traverse the entirety of pop, drawing influences from various subgenres and eras, including Olivia Rodrigo-influenced pop-punk, Caroline Polachek-like sounds, ABBA, The 1975, and Talking Heads. She describes her approach as trying on "all the different hats" within pop, indicating a willingness to explore diverse sonic territories.   

Breakout moment: Chloe Qisha's significant industry recognition and breakout moment in early 2025 stemmed from her prominent inclusion on two influential lists: Spotify's "Artists To Watch"  and Rolling Stone UK’s "Future of Music" list for 2025. These endorsements highlight her as a rising force in the pop scene. Her groundwork for this recognition was laid by her previous release, The Chloe Qisha EP (2024), which showcased her immediate knack for writing diverse pop music and her ability to blend various styles effectively.   

What's Next: Chloe Qisha's second EP, Modern Romance, that was highly anticipated and released in Summer 2025 did not disappoint. This project furthersly showcases her diverse influences and reinforce her position as an "abundantly talented new pop star". The EP is described as a "sister act" to her previous work, presenting a strong-minded and talented new artist. Her willingness to explore different musical avenues is further hinted by her suggestion of a future country song, indicating continued genre experimentation and a dynamic artistic evolution. 

5. Pozer

Pozer has carved out a distinct niche with a unique sound he terms "UK Jersey Drill," which is a blend of the moody atmosphere characteristic of UK drill and the upbeat, bouncily syncopated kick formulations of Jersey Club. He asserts the individuality of his sound, stating it is "too outside of the box" to be confined to a single genre categorization.   

Breakout moment: Pozer achieved a definitive breakout moment in February 2025 by securing the "Best Drill Act" award at the MOBO Awards, a significant achievement that saw him surpass established artists such as Central Cee and Headie One. This award followed his historical achievement as the first UK rapper to have his first two singles, "Kitchen Stove" and "Malicious Intentions," chart in the Top 40. While these charting successes may have occurred prior to January 2025, they provided the foundational momentum that culminated in his MOBO win and subsequent widespread industry recognition in early 2025. His position at the forefront of Rolling Stone UK’s "Future of Music" list for 2025 further solidified his rising status and industry anticipation.   

What's Next: Pozer has articulated a clear strategic vision: he aims to establish his unique "UK Jersey drill" style as a steady, defining genre within the UK music scene. This indicates a long-term goal of not just achieving individual success but also shaping the broader musical landscape. To expand his audience and capitalize on his newfound recognition, he has upcoming concert dates scheduled for July and August 2025 in Germany and the UK. These include performances at major festivals like Leeds Festival and Reading Festival, signaling a strong focus on live performances as a key vehicle for growth and fan engagement.   

As the music landscape continues to evolve, these five artists are not just shaping the sound of 2025 — they’re redefining what it means to break through in a hyper-connected, genre-blending world. Whether they’re dominating charts or rewriting cultural narratives, their journeys are only just beginning — and the world is listening.

Who do you think should be on this year’s breakout artist list? Share your picks — the next global star might already be in your headphones.