The Sam Sanders Show Who Can Save Pop Music?
Dec 23, 2025
Reanna Cruz, a music journalist and producer at Switched on Pop, dives deep into the state of pop music in 2025. She argues that much of the mainstream sound felt stale, often recycling the 2000s vibe. They discuss standout artists like Bad Bunny and the impact of AI on production, making songs less innovative. Reanna highlights emerging talent like PinkPantheress for transforming retro influences into fresh sounds. Amidst industry shifts and stagnant charts, she urges listeners to explore beyond the mainstream to find exciting new music.
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Pop Felt Stagnant In 2025
- Sam felt much of 2025 pop sounded old, recycled, and overplayed rather than new or adventurous.
- Reanna Cruz agreed the year felt stagnant with notable exceptions like Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga trying for maximalism.
Too Many Albums Were Retreads
- Many new albums felt like retreads that recycled an artist's prior sound without pushing the needle.
- Reanna used Sabrina Carpenter's follow-up to Short and Sweet as a clear example of this problem.
Bad Bunny Built A Global, Non‑US Pop World
- Bad Bunny built a compelling cultural world with Debitir on Masfotos that dominated global conversation.
- But his project centered Puerto Rican sounds and didn't aim to center mainland U.S. pop conventions.