As a musician and lifelong lover of music, I find myself troubled by the direction music is heading in 2025. The art form I have cherished - not just for its rhythm and melody, but for its ability to inspire, challenge, and unite - is changing. Today, music filled with vulgarity and explicit content often gains more traction than songs built on thoughtful, constructive lyrics. This shift raises questions about not just the industry but about the society we are shaping through what we consume and celebrate.
Is it the audience driving this change, or are artists steering the audience toward a new norm? Either way, the deeper concern is the long-term effect this trend may have on our culture and collective values.
I grew up during the apartheid era - a time when music was more than entertainment. It was a form of resistance. The regime feared music that spoke of revolution, unity, and hope. Songs that inspired people to think differently or stand up for justice were censored, banned, or even destroyed. Why? Because music has power. Real power.
Fast forward to today, and it is hard not to feel that this power is being diluted. Much of what is popular now prioritises shock value over substance. Themes of empowerment, justice, or personal growth are often overlooked in favour of lyrics that are provocative but hollow. As a result, artists who still write with meaning and purpose are rarely given the spotlight they deserve.
Lauryn Hill once said, "Music is supposed to inspire and build robust discussion and topics amongst communities." That definition still resonates with me, because it reflects the highest calling of the art: to uplift, to challenge, and to reflect the human condition. But in today's market, those kinds of songs are being drowned out by content that seeks only to entertain or elicit reaction - often at the cost of decency and depth.
If this is what music looks like in 2025, what kind of music will we hear in 2050? More importantly, what kind of society will that music help shape? If art reflects life, then music filled with emptiness may echo into communities struggling to find meaning and connection.
Yet, I remain hopeful.
There are still artists out there creating music with integrity - artists who care about lyrics, legacy, and the impact of their voices. They may not trend, but they are needed now more than ever. And so is the audience that supports them. It is up to us to uplift music with purpose, to celebrate creativity that builds instead of breaks down, and to ensure that future generations inherit a musical landscape rich with meaning.
We owe it to ourselves, to the past that shaped us, and to the future we are shaping now.
Let us not surrender music to noise.