When Vietnamese music enters a period of hot growth
First of all, the explosion of concerts and live performances is a clear positive sign. A series of large-scale music nights, from pop, ballad to Hip-hop, Indie, all attract tens of thousands of spectators such as liveshows of My Tam, Ha Anh Tuan or concerts gathering many artists of beautiful sisters and older brothers. The fact that audiences are willing to spend money on music tickets shows that listening to music is no longer a personal experience, but a cultural and social event.
In terms of products, Vietnamese music in 2025 recognizes the diversity of genres. Pop and Ballad still play a dominant role, but no longer absolutely dominant. Hip-hop continues to affirm its position with young artists with a methodical production mindset, while Indie, R&B, and Alternative Pop gradually find their own place. Notably, some songs with folk and regional cultural influences have created a strong spreading effect, showing that audiences are starting to pay more attention to the element of identity.
Another bright spot is the maturity of the young generation of artists. 2025 is no longer the story of the "phenomenon of a hit song", but the appearance of faces with long-term orientation, who know how to build images, music and the listener community. Many young artists actively make albums, organize showscases, and invest in concepts instead of chasing short-term trends. Among them, a series of hits caused a fever such as Bac Bling, Magic, Even in the End...
It is impossible not to mention the role of digital and data platforms. Spotify, YouTube, TikTok continue to be "leaves" for music products, helping Vietnamese songs reach audiences faster and wider. The fact that Vietnamese music appears regularly in streaming charts shows that the domestic market is large enough and dynamic enough to support itself.
Finally, Vietnamese music in 2025 began to have serious dialogues about the profession. From copyright, streaming revenue, performance organization to protecting artists' images, many issues that were once underestimated are now being publicly discussed.
When the pace of development surpasses the depth of creativity
Despite strong growth, Vietnamese music in 2025 still reveals many limitations. Many songs were born, creating a fast trend, reaching tens of millions of views, but were also quickly forgotten after only a few months.
An easily noticeable reality is formulation in composition. Many products repeat familiar structures: shocking, viral chorus, concise lyrics to suit the short-term platform. Some Western songs such as "Want to Crab You Make Love" cause controversy because the lyrics are hollow, lacking depth, only following the audience's trend.
Besides, excessive dependence on social networks also raises many questions. TikTok has become a "measuring of success" that makes many artists compose algorithmically instead of emotionally. When a song is made mainly to cut into 15 - 30 viral seconds, the overall value of a musical work is easily underestimated.
Another minus point is the controversy surrounding AI in music. 2025 witnessed the emergence of many products using voices and melodies created by artificial intelligence. Despite being interestingly experimental, many AI products raise questions about copyright, creative ethics and the role of humans in art. By the end of the year, the market still lacks a clear legal framework and standards for this trend.
Finally, the identity of Vietnamese music is still a long-term problem. Despite efforts to combine traditional elements, most products still have strong internationalization, sometimes lacking their own mark. The question "what is Vietnamese music different from Asian music?" still has no convincing answer.
Looking back, Vietnamese music in 2025 was a successful year in terms of market, but not yet complete in terms of artistic depth. Rapid development opened up many opportunities, while setting stricter requirements for artists, producers and audiences.
The coming time will be when Vietnamese music needs to slow down a bit to delve deeper, looking for works that can live longer than a trend season - songs that are strong enough to become collective memories, not just data on the charts.
