Music · 2020
Isolation Soundtracks, Livestreams, and Bedroom Pop Revolutions
In a year defined by global lockdowns and cancelled tours, music adapted rapidly to intimate, virtual spaces. Artists delivered reflective isolation projects and unstoppable disco anthems, keeping world audiences connected through screen-based performances.
- July 2020 | Indie Folk | Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift Releases Folklore
Written and produced entirely in secret during lockdown, this surprise indie-folk album redefined Swift's artistic direction and dominated the year's critical praise.
- March 2020 | Disco Pop | Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa Drops Future Nostalgia
Bringing upbeat disco optimism to early quarantine, Dua Lipa's second studio album delivered endless radio hits and provided the ultimate indoor dance soundtrack.
- 2020 | Synthwave | The Weeknd
The Weeknd Dominates with Blinding Lights
Driven by 1980s synth-pop nostalgia, this unstoppable single broke records by spending an entire calendar year in the Billboard Hot 100 top ten.
- April 2020 | Virtual Concert | Epic Games
Travis Scott Performs Astronomical in Fortnite
Over 12 million players joined simultaneously to watch a giant avatar of Travis Scott perform an immersive, surreal music set inside the video game.
- August 2020 | Hip-Hop | Atlantic Records
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Drop WAP
An uncompromising celebration of female empowerment, this viral collaboration debuted at number one and sparked fierce cultural commentary worldwide.
- March 2020 | Web Series | Instagram Live
Swizz Beatz and Timbaland Launch Verzuz
Created as a live webcast music battle during quarantine, the series pitted iconic R&B and hip-hop creators against each other to celebrate music history.
- August 2020 | K-Pop | Big Hit
BTS Scores First US #1 with Dynamite
The South Korean group made history with their first fully English single, shattering YouTube premiere records and topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
- February 2020 | Reggaeton | Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny Releases YHLQMDLG
The Puerto Rican superstar set a new record for the highest-charting all-Spanish album on the Billboard 200, cementing reggaeton's global dominance.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?