Looking back: 20 memorable music moments of 2024

Shaboozey took country to new heights with his hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Not only is it the longest number-one solo song in Billboard Hot 100 history, spending 17 weeks and counting atop the Hot 100, but it also reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, making him the first Black male artist to be at the top of both charts simultaneously. Also, it’s pretty evident that fans love drinking songs! 

Once Usher took over Las Vegas for three years straight with residency shows that were sold out every night, it was only right that the NFL booked him for Super Bowl LVIII which was held in the same city. Usher was the hottest ticket in town and many fans deemed him as the king of Las Vegas. During his performance, he went through a string of hits such as "Yeah!" and "Superstar," and also shared the stage with collaborators Alicia Keys, will.i.am, Lil Jon, H.E.R., and Ludacris. His performance broke the record for the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show ever. 

When Post Malone came onto the scene in 2016 with his debut album Stoney, his sound was more hip-hop. Since then, Malone has ventured into the worlds of pop and now country. On his sixth album F-1 Trillion, he sits comfortably among country’s elite collaborating with artists like Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, Dolly Parton, and more. With country stars joining him on the ride, the album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. 

The rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake became one of the year's most talked about topics. Although the beef had been brewing over the last decade, Lamar joined Future and Metro Boomin on the track "Like That" to address the Drake and J. Cole song "First Person Shooter." Lamar went on to claim there is no such thing as a "big three" in hip-hop, which then sparked a back-and-forth of diss tracks. Drake responded with a few tracks such as "Taylor Made Freestyle" and "Family Matters," while Lamar fought back with songs like "Euphoria" and "Not Like Us." 

Miley Cyrus has been nominated for several Grammy Awards during her career. However, it wasn’t until 2024 that she walked away with two trophies for Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of the Year for her hit single “Flowers.” The wins made perfect sense, especially since “Flowers” reached No. 1 across several Billboard charts including Adult Contemporary and the Hot 100. 

Beyoncé takes her sound in a different direction with her eighth album Cowboy Carter, which reflects more country and Americana genres. It was just another step in Beyoncé reinventing her music, as a follow-up to her previous dance album Renaissance. On Cowboy Carter, she teamed up with several collaborators in the country space such as Miley Cyrus, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton, as well as rising artists like Tanner Adell, Willie Jones, and Shaboozey.

Missy Elliott has a career that spans over three decades, it’s hard to believe she didn’t headline her first tour until this year. She joined forces with Timbaland, Ciara, and Busta Rhymes for the Out of This World Tour. With all that she’s accomplished in her career, such as being the first female MC to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it was only right that Elliott brought her astronomical talent across America for her fans to witness. 

Snoop Dogg is the type of artist who is seemingly loved by everyone, even if people don’t know his music. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, NBC hired Snoop to fill many roles, such as a correspondent, torchbearer, and performer. Snoop also made his presence known such as being in the stands cheering on Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles, attending a soccer game with Megan Rapinoe, and swimming with Olympic legend Michael Phelps. 

Quincy Jones was easily known as one of the most iconic composers, arrangers, producers, and songwriters of all time. He has a résumé so massive that includes working with artists like Frank Sinatra and Lesley Gore, changing the music world completely by producing Michael Jackson’s albums like Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad, composing scores for films like The Italian Job and The Wiz, executive producing TV shows such as In The House and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and being the founder of Vibe magazine. Jones passed away at the age of 91 and his legacy will continue to live on through music, TV, and film.  

It was back in 2008 when Katy Perry released her breakthrough single “I Kissed a Girl” from her sophomore album One of the Boys. Throughout the years, she’s gifted fans with pop hits that continue to get rotation. At the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Perry was honored with the show’s most prestigious honor Video Vanguard. During the telecast, Perry performed a medley of her hits including “Dark Horse” and “California Gurls.” 

Before Victoria Monét broke through as a solo artist, she was known for building her career as a songwriter for other artists including Fifth Harmony, Chloe x Halle, Brandy, and Ariana Grande. In 2023, she released her debut album Jaguar II, which included singles like “Party Girls,” “Alright,” and her breakthrough smash record “On My Mama.” By the following year, she took home three Grammy Awards including the prestigious Best New Artist. 

Latin music has skyrocketed in popularity over the years and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. According to the RIAA mid-year Latin music report, Latin music generated $685 million in revenue, with streaming subscriptions playing a major role. Some of the most-streamed Latin artists of the year include Karol G, Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, and J Balvin.  

The Jennifer Hudson Show is often referred to as the "happy place." To help keep show guests happy and give them a boost of energy before filming their segment, Jennifer Hudson's show staff creates curated chants that they sing as the guests walk down a backstage hallway. The show's digital team typically shares the spirit tunnel chant videos across their social media pages and plenty of them have gone viral including ones featuring Angela Bassett, Gwen Stefani, Lance Bass, and Victoria Monét. 

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors for artists and executives who have contributed to music history. Some of this year’s inductees included Dionne Warwick, Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Ozzy Osbourne, A Tribe Called Quest, Suzanne de Passe, and more. 

Beyoncé has been in the music industry for almost three decades, and she continues to elevate her artistry and craft that inspires other artists and fans. At the iHeartRadio Music Awards, Stevie Wonder presented Beyoncé with the  Innovator Award.  During Bey's speech, she expressed what innovation meant to her as she said, “Innovation starts with a dream, and the road to execute that dream can be very bumpy. Being an innovator is doing what everyone believes is impossible.” She then went on to thank artists that inspired her including Wonder, Prince, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and more. 

2024 has been a thrilling year for hip-hop and Doechii is one of the genre's rising stars. Doechii is hoping to take home a few Grammy Awards as she is the most nominated female rapper at the 2025 ceremony. With four nominations, Doechii is up for Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Album, Best Remixed Recording, and Best New Artist.  

The American Music Awards celebrated five decades of key moments, iconic performances, and legendary artists during its 50th anniversary special. Not only did the telecast include montages of historical moments, but the show also had performances from artists like Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Gladys Knight, Nelly, Raye, and more. 

Just over two years after being arrested on gang and racketeering charges, rapper Young Thug was finally released from custody. After changing his plea to guilty, the rapper was able to avert extensive prison time and instead be sentenced to probation which includes several restrictions. 

In February, Frankie Beverly announced he would retire after his band Maze completes their farewell tour. Beverly and his band have been in the music industry for over five decades, and they wanted to be celebrated in their own way. The farewell tour ended in Philadelphia in July, and he was also celebrated at this year’s Essence Fest. In September, Beverly passed away at the age of 77. 

In late 2022, Celine Dion announced her diagnosis of stiff person syndrome, a condition that caused her to cancel her 2023 Courage World Tour Dates. She stayed out of the public eye as she tended to her health and fans were unsure if Dion would ever sing again. However, Dion gave a rousing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics as she closed out the opening ceremony.