Hip-hop remains Splice’s most downloaded genre for the third year in a rowHip-hop has taken the top spot as the most downloaded genre on Splice for the third year in a row, according to its joint Sounds of 2026 annual report with MIDiA Research.
The report tracks the genres, sounds, and trends shaping the sound of music, and the new data has shown a “turning point” is emerging in across the industry, as listening habits continue to fragment and micro-trends are leading to genre fluidity.

READ MORE: Universal Music Group and Splice are partnering to build “commercial AI tools” for music creation

Hip-hop holds its position as the most downloaded genre and trap remains the top sub genre, but throwback sounds like G-funk, boom bap, and underground sounds like rage and pluggnb are driving growth, according to the report.
Afro house has been chosen as Splice’s ‘sound of the year’, with house rising from 2023’s 5th most downloaded genre to 2nd in 2025. Afro house has driven 70 percent of that growth in the past year and melodic house has grown by 275 percent to 3.2 million downloads.
Pop has also made a resurgence in popularity across Splice, and is back in the top three after having dropped from 2nd to 4th position in 2024. Hyperpop and indie pop are leading sub genres, but bedroom pop is the biggest growth story within the genre, with downloads rising 297 percent. There were also two million downloads of a 2000s Power Tools pop pack from Oliver, the producer behind the key samples used in Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso.

Overall, the research shows that music is undergoing “a once-in-a-decade shift” as fans and artists are exploring what it means to “create and connect at a time when technological advances are bringing about changes in global exchange, democratisation, and personalisation at an unprecedented speed”.
“Music has entered an era where the biggest trends are personal,” says Kakul Srivastava, CEO of Splice. “Our data shows creators pulling inspiration from everywhere at once, blending global sounds and local scenes to create music that feels both deeply human and culturally expansive. Sounds of 2026 captures that shift in real time.”
Mark Mulligan, Managing Director and Music Analyst at MIDiA Research, adds: “In a music economy increasingly shaped by micro-trends, sample usage offers one of the clearest signals of what’s coming next. The sounds creators choose today reflect not only genre evolution, but deeper cultural shifts towards global exchange and scene-driven growth.”
Find out more and read the report over at Splice. You can also learn more about MIDiA Research.
The post Hip-hop remains Splice’s most downloaded genre for the third year in a row appeared first on MusicTech.