The school year  is winding  down, and soon everyone will be off at the beach or the pool or parties listening to their favorite playlist of songs. When looking back at the year, I had recognized that there has been so much happening in music while we were in school this year.

In 2016 alone, a multitude of records have been released that had listeners hanging on the edge of their seat to listen to. Especially for teens, it was definitely a huge year for popular music. Rihanna’s ANTI, Beyonce’s Lemonade, Drake’s Views, and Adele’s 25 are some that may come to mind. These records not only caused a favorable commotion after they were released,  but they also sparked interest long before they were released. In other genres, Sia released her latest record This is Acting and Kendrick Lamar dropped To Pimp a Butterfly.

Pop artists have been springing up from youtube popularity or television recognition such as the X Factor or the Voice. Elle King, The Chainsmokers, and Nick Jonas are all recent pop artists who have everyone singing their catchy upbeat tunes.

In addition, the hit musical written by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton recordings still remains Number five on iTunes top records. The show’s ticket prices have risen to as much as ten thousand dollars and the summer will be the perfect time for those wishing to see the sensational musical.

It also comes with a heavy heart that the music world lost icons such as David Bowie and Prince, country singer Merle Haggard, and Maurice White of Earth, Wind, and Fire, along with others. The music world has shaped accordingly with these incredible artists, and they have surely been recognized for their immense talent and beautiful music.