Hospital Radio: What’s new in music for 2025?

What’s New for the New Year?

So, as we enter 2025, I was wondering what new music we have in store from established stars and new artists that we may not have heard of. The year just gone was undoubtedly the year of Taylor Swift. The USA Billboard crowned her the artist of the year, and what with her spectacular “Eras” tour, it’s difficult to think anything will be different this year.

Above: Paul Harding

In the UK it was the same story with her “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” scooping up the title of ‘most-streamed album’ of the year. She has no plans for a lengthy break and is apparently already working on new music for a 2025 release and a tour in 2026.

The most streamed song in 2024 was a favourite at Torbay Hospital Radio, ‘Stick Season’ by Noah Kahan. Noah from Vermont had a belting year, and his collaboration with Kelsea Ballerini on the song Cowboys Cry Too has been nominated for a Grammy in the 2025 awards. Expect to hear much more from him. He is coming to Blighty this year, and you can catch him at Hyde Park in July.

Many established artists will have new music; Madonna is back in the studios, and Lady Gaga will have an album out probably in late spring. February should see Sam Fender’s new album; his last album, “Seventeen Going Under,” was nominated for the Mercury Prize and was packed with catchy rock songs. I have high expectations for the follow-up.

Less well known is Myles Smith, who won the Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the TikTok Awards in December. The song that did it, ‘Stargazing,’ amassed over 400 million streams and was on Barack Obama’s summer playlist. Smith is set to support Ed Sheeran this year on tour, an opportunity not to be missed. Expect big things from him.

Also look out for Irish singer Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, known as CMAT. She has been building quite a following over the last few years. If you get a chance, watch her rendition of ‘Without You’ on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny. It’s a real tearjerker. On the same show was the

band Jungle, who won a Brit award last year for their album ‘Volcano.’ Originally formed in 2013, they have four successful albums under their belt, but they are becoming known to a whole new audience with their blend of genres to create a unique, danceable style.

Also, look out for Addison Rae, who broke through on TikTok, which is how many singers are discovered these days. Her single ‘Diet Pepsi’ hit the top ten in September, bringing an infectious blend of pop and dance. It might be a bit sugary for some, but there is definitely

some star potential there. She is similar in many ways to Sabrina Carpenter, so if that’s your bag, I recommend you give her a listen. An album is promised soon.

I am also expecting to hear a lot of the seventies favourites, the Osmonds, over the next couple of weeks given the tragic death at 73 of Wayne Osmond. His musical career started when he was just a boy, when he formed a barbershop quartet with his brothers, Alan, Merrill, and Jay. They were later joined by Donny and Jimmy and became household names in the 1970s, with hits including One Bad Apple, Crazy Horses, and Love Me for A Reason.

On a final note, I was saddened by the death of Johnny Walker. He was a fantastic broadcaster, who I have listened to for most of my life. Known for his pirate radio days and a long stint with Radio Two, it’s often overlooked that he spent time working on local radio in the early 1980s. He returned from the states to work at Radio West in Bristol and then Wiltshire Radio. The rest is history. RIP Johnny, you will be missed.

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