Pop’s Slump Continues Into 2026 as Global Charts Remain Stagnant

If 2024 was a sprinkle-topped strawberry sundae filled with Charli XCX’s slime-green Brat summer, Sabrina Carpenter’s 2.89-billion-streamed “Espresso ” shot, and Chappell Roan’s megawatt Grammy moment, then 2025 was the store-bought ham sandwich you eat alone on your lunch break: slightly stale. Last year was notably lacking in breakout hits and chart-topping new