🎵 2023 in Review

From Troye Sivan’s electrifying rush to SZA’s smoldering defiance, from Billie Eilish’s introspective Barbie ballad to boygenius’ vulnerable comeback.

2023 wasn’t your typical year in music. The genre map was redrawn with legendary artists venturing into uncharted territory. Dolly Parton embraced rock, André 3000 hypnotized with his instrumental flute odyssey, and Taylor Swift revisited her past with re-recorded versions of two beloved albums.

Country music wasn’t just playing, it was dominating. Four chart-topping hits, led by Morgan Wallen’s 16-week behemoth Last Night, sent the Billboard 100 soaring to twangy new heights. Rap, on the other hand, took a backseat, with a mere three tracks reaching the top — the lowest since 1989.

But music in 2023 wasn’t just about numbers. It was about saying goodbye to icons like Tina Turner, Tony Bennett, David Crosby, Jimmy Buffet, Sinead O’Connor, and Jeff Beck, and witnessing the hiatus of BTS as its members began their military service.

The year began with joyful moments: Bonnie Raitt’s shocking Grammy win and Rihanna’s return to stage for the Super Bowl LVII halftime show. Supergroup boygenius released their highly anticipated debut, while an AI-generated Drake and The Weeknd track went viral. In a dramatic twist, Coachella’s headliner Frank Ocean was replaced by the original Blink-182 lineup after a disappointing mess.