Kendrick Lamar Vs. Drake

There were numerous defining moments in 2024 for the music industry. One moment captured the attention of music fans around the world: Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake. The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has been escalating for the past decade. However in March, it erupted into the artists making diss tracks about one another.

In March, 2024, Lamar denounced the idea of the “Big 3,” which included Lamar, Cole, and Drake. In the song “Like That,” Lamar said “It’s just big me.” This response by Lamar to the “Big 3” was a major contributor to the feud. In April, Drake responded with two Kendrick Lamar diss tracks. Drake released “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Six days later, Lamar released his six minute diss track, “Euphoria.”

In the following months, the diss tracks continued, becoming increasingly hostile. A total of nine diss tracks were made between the two artists in the span of two months. However Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us”, became an immediate success. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it received five Grammy nominations. Lamar later made a music video for his hit song.

Even months after the diss tracks, the feud is still alive on Drake’s end. In November, Drake accused Universal Music of defamation regarding Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Lamar has yet to respond to any of Drake’s accusations. With the dispute unfinished, it is unclear whether 2025 could be another year filled with diss tracks.

2024 Paris Olympics

The 2024 Summer Olympics in France marked a return to one of the most iconic cities for the Games. Held from July 26 to August 11, 2024, the Paris Olympics featured over 30 sports, including the debut of breakdancing and kayak cross. Baseball and softball made their return after being absent since the 2008 Beijing Games, reigniting excitement among fans of the sports.

Track and field events were a major highlight, with American sprinter Noah Lyles winning gold and bronze medals. In gymnastics, Simone Biles added three more Olympic gold medals for her collection, reaffirming her status as the most decorated gymnast. Fellow American gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik received significant attention online after earning a bronze medal for pommel horse, eventually leading to his appearance on Dancing with the Stars. American swimmer Katie Ledecky added four more medals to her total of 14, becoming the most decorated female Olympian.

Meanwhile, athletes from other countries also left a mark on pop culture. French swimmer Léon Marchand caught global attention by claiming gold in the men’s 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly on the same night, becoming the first athlete to win two individual gold medals for swimming in decades. Australian breaker Rachel “Raygun” Gunn went viral on social media for her unique routines at the Games, inspiring a wave of memes and skits recreating her iconic dance movies.

The Games concluded on a high note, with more than 71,000 spectators filling the Stade de France to watch the musical and stunt-filled closing ceremony.

Wicked: Part One

Despite its Thanksgiving release date, “Wicked: Part One” has left a big impression on 2024. The film’s opening week generated 112.5 million in domestic sales and more than 400 million worldwide. These numbers have only climbed since, the film now boasting 359 million from the U.S. – part of a 524 million worldwide total. “Wicked: Part One” is now the highest grossing stage-movie-to-musical adaptation, after recently surpassing “Grease” from 1978.

Part of the reason for this success comes from fans of the Broadway musical, but also from the viral press tour and the draw of actors like Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. The lengthy press tour led to clips of an emotional Grande and Erivo crying in interviews and put the viral “holding space” meme all over social media.

“Wicked” had already garnered some secondhand press throughout the year, from the release of Grande’s seventh studio album “eternal sunshine” and the chatter surrounding it. On the album, she discussed her new relationship with “Wicked” costar Ethan Slater.

The second installment in the franchise, which has already wrapped filming, will pick up right after “Defying Gravity” and follow the events of the second act in the original Broadway musical. Despite occupying the cultural zeitgeist for the past two months already, “Wicked” may become popular again this fall, with the November 21 release of “Wicked: For Good.”

Brat summer

Charli XCX’s release, “Brat,” wasn’t just an album–it was a cultural phenomenon. Released on June 7, the album’s bold aesthetic, characterized by a striking lime-green color along with themes of partying and carefreeness, sparked a trend that reached all corners of pop culture.

Brat’s bright, messy, and neon aesthetic instantly became iconic, influencing memes, influencers, and social media trends across platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The album brought Charli to new heights, earning her first No. 1 on the Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart, a No. 3 spot on the Billboard 200, and over 3 million global sales–making it 2024’s best-selling album by a British artist.

The TikTok dance routine for “Apple” went viral with over 1.5 million videos, and celebrities like the cast of “Twisters” (Daisy Edgar Jones, Glen Powell, and Anthony Ramos) participated in the trend.

Even as summer turned to autumn, “brat summer” thrived, with Charli’s songs still on trend. Charli’s October release, “Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat,” along with her Sweat Tour with Troye Sivan, the trend remained strong through fall. Collaborations like “Girl, So Confusing” with Lorde and “Guess” with Billie Eilish further increased her popularity.

From towering billboards in New York City to serving as the central brand in Vice President Kamala Harris’ official presidential campaign, “Brat” has become a defining symbol of 2024.

Eras Tour comes to an end

2024 coming to a close has officially marked the end of an era. While there have been numerous defining pop-culture moments in 2024, one has changed the trajectory of the music industry. Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, has taken over the global music scene. Hosting 149 shows in 21 countries, Swift has made history with The Eras Tour. The tour began in Arizona on March 17, 2023 and it ended on December 8, 2024. The concert consisted of each of Swift’s era’s, taking the audience through her 18 year discography. Ranging from albums Fearless to The Tortured Poets Department, Swift covered roughly 44 songs in a three hour performance.

Swift made history with her first concert since the Reputation Stadium Tour. The tour made more than $2 billion, making it the highest grossing tour of all time. It also brought in revenue to local economies. For example, the California Center for Jobs & the Economy speculated that the six Era’s Tour concerts in Los Angeles resulted in employment increasing by 3,300 people and local earnings increasing by $160 million.

Swift’s Era’s Tour attracted a large audience, ultimately leading to the crash of Ticketmaster’s website. After the first announcement of tour dates, Swift’s fans rushed to the Ticketmaster queue, some waiting in line for over two hours. However, millions of fans were unable to purchase tickets due to the website crashing. This fight to purchase tickets was ultimately referred to as “The Great War”.

Overall, The Era’s Tour was a monumental success for Taylor Swift. It set new expectations for the music industry and concert culture. Although the Era’s Tour has come to an end, Taylor Swift will continue to transform the music industry in the upcoming year.