The global music industry’s year-end data confirms what many fans already knew: 2025 was dominated by Taylor Swift and a new wave of K-Pop artists who expanded the genre’s reach to unprecedented levels.

Swift’s Eras Tour, which continued into 2025, generated an estimated $2.2 billion in total economic impact across the cities it visited, making it the highest-grossing concert tour in history. Her album “The Tortured Poets Department” remained in the Billboard 200’s top 10 for 45 consecutive weeks.

Meanwhile, Rosé’s collaboration with Bruno Mars on “APT” became the most-streamed song of 2025, while K-Pop group KPop Demon Hunters broke multiple records with their debut album.

“The globalization of pop music is complete,” said music industry analyst Mark Mulligan. “The distinction between ‘Western’ and ‘Asian’ pop is increasingly meaningless to younger listeners.”

Streaming platforms reported that K-Pop listening hours grew 34% year-over-year, with particularly strong growth in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.