Global trends for music consumption continued to shift throughout 2025. While streaming is, without doubt, the strongest in the market, the love of physical music in Gen Z and Gen Alpha has continued to rise. Though the CD market continues to drop, with sales down by over 20% in some markets, it is the passion for vinyl that continues to flourish - with some artists even trying to bring back the cassette to prominence.

While we wait to see how that plays out in 2026, our Albums of the Year countdown continues...

60Skunk Anansie - The Painful Truth

Must-Listen Moments:Shame; Lost and Found; Animal



59Klemen - Golden Hour

Must-Listen Moments: Is Anybody Out There?; How Much Time Do We Have
Left; Out Of My Cage



58Caylee Hammack - Bed of Roses

Must-Listen Moments: Back Again; Mammas; Cleopatra



57Lily Lyons - Re-Open The World

Must-Listen Moments: Weightless; Look At You; Can't Be The One



56Ash - Ad Astra

Must-Listen Moments: Give Me Back My World; Deadly Love; Keep Dreaming



55Gustaph - Look At Us Now

Must-Listen Moments:Because Of You; Glow; Darker Days



54Willow Avalon - Southern Belle Raisin' Hell

Must-Listen Moments: Homewrecker; Baby Blue; Helly There, Dolly



53Conner Reeves - TEN THOUSAND DAYS and THE CHURCH of the RESTORATION

Must-Listen Moments: Restore Me; TWICE AS HAPPY; WASTE OF FIRE



52. Carter Faith - Cherry Valley

Must-Listen Moments: Sex, Drugs & Country Music; Six String; Burn My Memory



51Chesney Hawkes - Living Arrows

Must-Listen Moments: LOUD!; Do You Ever Think Of Me?; Radio Silence



50Lady Gaga - MAYHEM

Must-Listen Moments: Abracadabra; Vanish Into You; The Dead Dance



49Ariana Grande - Eternal Sunshine Deluxe: Brighter Days Ahead

Must-Listen Moments:the boy is mine; i wish i hated you; dandelion



48Taylor Swift - The Life of a Showgirl

Must-Listen Moments: Opalite; Elizabeth Taylor; CANCELLED!



47Mae Martin - I'm A TV

Must-Listen Moments: I Love You So Much; Garbage Strike; People Get Back Up



46Mia Wray - hi, it's nice to meet me

Must-Listen Moments: What if; Only Love; Fake A Smile



45Alex Warren - You'll Be Alright, Kid

Must-Listen Moments: Eternity; Carry You Home; Burning Down



Must-Listen Moments: Don't Walk Away; The Weekend; Everybody's Lover

44Calum MacPhail - Highlands to Heartlands

Must-Listen Moments: Say You Love Me; Blue Is The Eye; Young & Free



43Tom Odell - A Wonderful Life

Must-Listen Moments: Prayer. Wonderful Life; Ugly



42Cam - All Things Light

Must-Listen Moments: Slow Down; Kill The Guru!; We Always Do



41The Charlatans - We Are Love

Must-Listen Moments: Deeper And Deeper; We Are Love; Appetite