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Stuart Dredge, Head of Insight at Music Ally and a leading chronicler of the music business, believes the industry is “fascinating” due to its constant waves of disruption and technology trends. He emphasizes that music and musicians are core to his life, motivating him to write about how people and startups are helping artists build sustainable careers.
Dredge identified AI as the “big story” in 2025, a trend he began covering over a decade ago. He argues that while the arguments about regulation and copyright are important, he is optimistic these issues will be resolved.
AI, Superfans, and the Hot Take
His personal “hot take” is that making AI music is genuinely fun. Provided these tools are properly licensed so that professional artists benefit, he believes there is fascinating potential in the technology. He hopes that AI will eventually “melt into the fabric” of the music industry.
Dredge also highlighted the shift in superfan economics. He is enjoying covering the move away from the exploitative model toward deeper thought on how to genuinely build and nurture strong fan communities.
Furthermore, he noted the growing importance of Artist Advocacy, highlighting that artists’ voices are currently louder than ever on issues ranging from the streaming economy to the climate emergency.
Global Predictions
Looking ahead, Dredge predicts that the climate emergency will become a higher industry priority over the next five years, with sustainable practices becoming standard. He also believes the world is “not done with platform disruption,”expecting a huge new platform to emerge and shake up the social and streaming landscapes.
Most excitingly, Dredge anticipates major changes in music itself. He points to the global growth of Reggaeton, Afrobeats, and K-Pop, predicting that young musicians will increasingly “smoosh together” global influences into new, organic movements and sounds, moving beyond commercially motivated collaborations.
Dredge’s comprehensive outlook suggests the industry’s future rests on balancing ethical responsibility with creative freedom. The growth of genuine fan communities and the rise of new global genres prove that while technology will continue to disrupt the business model, the core human desire for making and enjoying music remains the ultimate driving force.
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