Live music's heavy rock and metal genres continue to thrive, according to Live Nation's latest report.
In an unexpected turn of events, heavy rock and metal music are outpacing even growing genres such as Latin and country music in terms of streaming, according to recent reports from Live Nation and Luminate. This resurgence in the genre is being attributed to several key factors.
Renewed Interest and Growth in Streaming
Luminate's 2025 midyear report highlights rock music's remarkable resurgence, noting it as the genre with the highest growth rate in streaming. With 123.3 billion streams in the US, rock and metal music ranks second behind hip-hop/R&B. This broadening and rejuvenation of audiences is evident in the genre's streaming numbers [1].
Impact of Documentaries and Social Media
Documentaries like Becoming Led Zeppelin have attracted widespread viewership, contributing to renewed interest among younger listeners. Additionally, social media platforms such as TikTok have helped metalcore and heavy rock bands go viral, expanding metal’s appeal beyond niche audiences. For example, Bad Omens' viral hit "Just Pretend" significantly boosted their popularity and ticket sales [1][2].
Cross-Genre and Innovative Sounds
Modern metal bands such as Sleep Token mix metal with pop, R&B, and trap, appealing to diverse audiences. This blend is attracting attention and streaming in record numbers, as Sleep Token's album was the most-streamed metal album in 2023 [2].
Strong Live Show Presence
Live Nation reports that 13% of arena and stadium shows are now led by rock and metal artists, with a 14% increase in heavy rock shows last year. This growing mainstream visibility in large venues fuels the genre's momentum and attracts new fans [3][4].
Established Bands Continuing to Succeed
Bands like Five Finger Death Punch, with widespread gold and platinum sales, maintain a large audience that bridges hard rock and metal fans, helping sustain genre popularity [2].
Together, these factors — increased streaming interest driven by new listeners and viral exposure, innovative genre blending, strong live concert support, and media spotlight — contribute to the boom in heavy rock and metal seen in both streaming numbers and live music attendance in 2025 [1][2][3][4].
Key Statistics and Festivals
Key statistics shared by Live Nation back up the assertion that heavy rock and metal are booming. Festivals such as Rockville, Aftershock, and Inkarceration metal festivals are bigger every year. Korn, Deftones, Linkin Park, Evanescence, and Iron Maiden are anchoring festival lineups. System Of a Down have added stadium dates after instant sellouts in New Jersey, Chicago, and Toronto [5].
Live Nation has stated that heavy rock and metal are bigger than ever in live music. The official Instagram account of the group has also stated that heavy rock and metal shows are up this year [6].
A Farewell to a Legend
On July 5, the rock and metal community held a gathering at Villa Park to bid farewell to Ozzy Osbourne, a former member of Black Sabbath, who is being honoured for his impact on music [7]. Live Nation's post about Ozzy Osbourne states that his legacy will live on in every riff.
Expanding Audience Base
According to Tobias Forge, the frontman of Ghost, the audience for metal has expanded over the decades. Forge, who started attending death metal shows in the 1990s, noticed that the audience was almost exclusively young men in their 20s. However, he believes that the audience for metal now includes people from ages 7 to 70 [8].
As the genre continues to evolve and attract new listeners, the future of heavy rock and metal looks promising.
Despite the growing popularity of genres like Latin and country music in streaming, heavy rock and metal music is outpacing them, as highlighted by Luminate's 2025 midyear report. This revitalization in streaming interest is accompanied by innovative blends of metal with genres like pop, R&B, and trap, appealed by modern metal bands such as Sleep Token.
Documentaries like Becoming Led Zeppelin and viral hits on platforms like TikTok have sparked renewed interest among younger listeners, contributing to the genre's resurgence. Additionally, the impact of established bands like Five Finger Death Punch and legendary figures such as Ozzy Osbourne, who was honored in Villa Park, continues to sustain the genre's popularity.
