Popular Music in Türkiye in Recent Years

In Türkiye, music listening habits rapidly digitized from the 2020s onward, with applications such as Spotify becoming the most important sources for determining music playlists. For instance, according to Spotify’s 2024 Year in Review report, the most streamed artist in Türkiye in 2024 was Semicenk, and the most streamed song was “Cıstak,” a collaborative work by Era7capone, Batuflex, and Narco. These figures summarize the emerging trends in songs and artists for this new era. During the pandemic, increased access to music via the internet led to a rise in the prominence of rap and hip-hop dominated works.

Prominent Artists and Songs

During this period, artists from various genres rose to the top of the charts. The leading subgenres and representative names/songs include:

• Rap/Trap: In recent years, rap and trap music have garnered significant attention in Türkiye. In Spotify’s 2023 charts, tracks such as Semicenk’s “Yana Yana” (with Reynmen), BLOK3’s “Affetmem,” and Lvbel C5’s “NKBİ X Yapamam-Remix” reached the top ranks. In 2024, Semicenk led the charts once again. Rappers such as Ari, Blok3, Uzi, and Ceza, along with trap artists like Lvbel C5, Doğu Swag, and Güneş, gained widespread recognition.

• Pop: New hits also emerged in the traditional pop genre. Simge’s “Aşkın Olayım” was the most streamed song in 2023. In 2024, Zeynep Bastık’s emotional duet “Lan” ranked second. In addition, artists such as Mabel Matiz, Edis, Hande Yener, and Aleyna Tilki maintained their success on the charts. These jointly popular tracks drew attention through their melodic foundations and emotional themes.

• Alternative/Indie: Artists from the independent music scene also expanded their audiences. Names such as Senan Kara, Ceylan Çapa, Kalben, Beliz, and Büyük Ev Ablukada found a place among online listeners. Groups like Dolu Kadehi Ters Tut and Adamlar reached audiences with their rock and indie tones. In late 2023, Motive’s album Romantik (lyric-driven rap) reached the top of the charts, while rappers Uzi, Heijan, and Muti also ranked in the top five. Meanwhile, Mabel Matiz’s album Fatih and Simge’s album Ben Bazen were warmly received by pop/rock listeners.

• Arabesk-Pop: The fusion of traditional arabesk style with modern pop music emerged as a new trend. Artists such as Haluk Levent reached wider audiences by reinterpreting classic arabesk songs with rock/pop arrangements. Arabesk-pop tracks, such as those from the TV series Çukur, were also introduced to younger listeners through television.

The Impact of Digital Platforms

Digital platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok transformed how songs are discovered and achieve popularity. Spotify’s data clearly demonstrates the importance of these platforms, as its “Year in Review” lists determined the most streamed artist and song of 2024 in Türkiye. TikTok, in particular, generated viral songs among younger users; tracks promoted through short videos climbed to the top of digital charts. For example, popular tracks like Reynmen’s “Derdim Olsun” and the collaboration between Aleyna Tilki and Doğu Swag reached broad audiences through TikTok trends. With the influence of these platforms, users and viral trends began shaping music hits, replacing record labels as the primary drivers of success.

Shifts in Themes and Styles

From the 2020s onward, Türkiye’s Turkish-language music underwent changes in themes and musical styles. Electronic, R&B, and dance elements were incorporated into pop music; in rap, trends shifted toward trap and lo-fi beats. For instance, Simge’s “Aşkın Olayım” features emotional pop/R&B vocals, while Semicenk and Reynmen’s duet “Yana Yana,” ranked just below it, is built on a hard-hitting electronic trap beat. Alongside themes of love, social issues, personal motivation, and psychological subjects gained prominence. Additionally, the arabesk-pop movement carried emotional motifs from the past into contemporary arrangements. In summary, boundaries between genres blurred in music production; popular works increasingly intertwined rap with traditional motifs.

Changes in Listener Trends

The listener profile also diversified during this period. The majority of younger audiences turned to online platforms, particularly streaming services and social media, for music consumption. In contrast, more mature listeners continue to show interest in traditional radio and YouTube. Spotify’s chart content reflects this trend. In the most streamed albums of 2023 and 2024, rap accounted for seven of the top entries, yet pop/rock albums by Mabel Matiz and Simge also appeared on the list. This indicates that listener tastes have become more heterogeneous. While the younger generation gravitates toward rap-trap and TikTok-driven pop songs, middle-aged listeners still follow rock, arabesk, and classic pop examples.

Interaction Between Mainstream and Alternative Music

The boundaries between mainstream popular music and the alternative scene have become increasingly blurred. For example, pop stars such as Simge and Zeynep Bastık collaborated with rappers (e.g., Simge’s “Yakışıklı” with KÖFN), while popular rappers incorporated pop arrangements into their work. Meanwhile, icons of traditional pop such as Sezen Aksu remain among the most streamed artists; in 2024, Sezen Aksu ranked first on the list of most streamed female artists, followed by Hande Yener, Gülşen, Simge, and Melike Şahin. This list placed older-generation pop artists (Sezen, Hande) alongside newer-generation singers (Simge, Melike). Thus, mainstream stars converged with rising artists from the indie and rap scenes on the same listener charts. Alternative sounds also reached wider audiences through festivals and the internet, with some indie artists appearing on mainstream hit lists. As a result, traditional pop and hip-hop/indie elements merged, providing fresh sources of inspiration for both sides.

Success on Digital Music Charts

In conclusion, digital platforms became the most critical indicator of a song’s success during this period. Tracks that reached the top ranks on services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube became major hits. For example, on Spotify’s 2024 Turkey Top Songs list, Era7capone’s “Cıstak” reached number one, while Zeynep Bastık’s “Lan” and KÖFN–Simge’s “Yakışıklı” also entered the top five. Similarly, Apple Music’s year-end charts included Turkish rap tracks such as Murda and Ezhel’s “AYA” and Gazapizm’s “Unutulacak Dünler,” alongside pop works by Simge and Zeynep Bastık. These trends demonstrate that streaming data has become pivotal in measuring a track’s success.