Earlier this year, discourse emerged around the idea that it has been a decade since the music industry last created a new genre. Ten years ago, 2016 brought us the whimsical sounds of bedroom pop, with infectious bangers from the late indie duo Her’s, to Girli’s incredible run of pop sizzlers (“Girl I Met On The Internet,” “Too Much Fun,” and “Girls Get Angry Too”) that wove electronic-pop tendencies. It’s hard not to be nostalgic for 2016 when we were so spoiled musically.
In the years since, new subgenres have formed, but many have failed to become equally significant cultural moments. In 2026, it’s hard to understand what makes a new genre stand out, and stay long enough to have widespread public interest.
Throughout history, incredible genres have formed and gone on to dominate charts today, from rock and roll and pop to hip-hop to R&B. Almost every decade has introduced a new sound that captures the cultural shifts, emotions, and movements of the generation that created it. From the rebellion and liberation of the swinging 60s, to the vivacious energy of punk that exploded in the 70s, each era found its own musical identity.
More recently, the kaleidoscopic sounds of avant-garde pop—perfectly illustrated by artists like Sophie, Charli XCX, Grimes—have pushed boundaries of what popular music can look like and become.
This year, however, marks the first decade where the music industry hasn’t produced a new genre that has reshaped the cultural landscape. That doesn’t mean underground scenes aren’t thriving or that new subgenres aren’t breaking through. They are. But unlike the defining sounds of previous generations, these emerging scenes have yet to create widespread impact or change.
The Latest Scenes Breaking Through
Right now, one of those genres is the newly identified UK Poo. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s music full of trashy lyrics, silly beats, and unserious social campaigns. A few artists who are taking this genre by storm include SAVVY, who recently gained traffic for the single “Slap Me Again” and Liilz, who released “Glad U Came” a few years ago. Despite the unseriousness of this new music scene, it is failing to make enough noise to make any lasting impact.
Part of the reason may be the industry’s growing trend of recycling old stock. The resurgence of vinyls is proof of that, with sales often peaking and dropping, yet never quite diminishing.
Today’s music industry sees the younger generation still moved by the legendary art created before some of them were even born. Even though Sound Campaign confirmed that “approximately 112,000 new tracks [are] uploaded every day,” to streaming platforms, a lot of the industry’s current cycle features repurposed songs and samples from the past.
UK Poo is only one example., Whether it’s the hypercharged sounds of Phonk, the dystopian soundwaves of witch house, or demented death polka—an adventurous blend of folk, EDM and sludge metal—lowkey scenes are forming with rising audiences, and social media seems to act a the turning point.
Social Media and the New Path Forward
Despite the influx of TikTok musicians who have released one-hit wonders over the past decade, social media has been an important tool for artists looking for their big break amid the decline of defining genre movements.
In the last decade alone, Cat Burns went viral on TikTok for her acoustic song, “Go.” Billie Eilish gained attention on SoundCloud for the first edition of “Ocean Eyes,” which she would later re-release in 2017. Sam Ryder blew up online during COVID for his emotionally captivating covers.
These artists weren’t necessarily creating new genres, they were building something of their own. Through social media, they became some of today’s biggest artists. Social media can make artists visible overnight, but it often builds isolated fan communities rather than the mass movements that once turned a sound into a genre. While the musical landscape feels uncertain right now, one thing is clear: artists and musicians are staying relevant by finding their communities online.
Today genres aren’t catching on, or influencing in the same way as others of the last few generations. The difference is that right now a lot of music is being made for easy consumption. Short, snappy, catchy, otherwise easily digestible. We’ve seen it with TikTok hits, and AI-generated music on Sumo. That being said, that isn’t to say there aren’t new and innovative projects being made, because each year, niche, underground scenes continue to prove us wrong. But, why is it so much harder for them to get the praise they deserve?
The current landscape of the music industry is uncertain. Unlike before, quality doesn’t feel like it is at the epicentre of the ecosystem. Instead, it’s about what can sell well and fast. This, is subsequently, silencing the smaller movements, but perhaps there is still hope for a new genre to land, and create a cultural impact large enough for the industry to introduce a whole new scene. Even if it means we have missed a decade in the process.