NEWM

Here are the music trends we expect to see in 2026: a resurgence of physical media like vinyl, CDs, even cassettes; growth in lo-tech listening – MP3 players, OG iPods; smaller shows & house concerts over mega-festivals; a rise of niche fan communities over mass-culture fandom; a turn toward intentional listening instead of generated playlists; and a rise in curated indie music pages & artist-run blogs.

2026 is shaping up to be the year of tech resistance, nostalgia-maxxing, and intentionality – but that’s just our 2 cents. Tech isn’t going anywhere, but whether or not you choose to optimize your life to the max, or enjoy a little more friction will always be up to you.

What do you think — will you shift toward lo-tech music listening this year?

With the end of the year just around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about what you want 2026 to look like.

If you need a bit of inspiration to make next year the one where you really go for it, check out this presentation at the 2025 Cardano Summit by our Founder, 🖤

A Startup’s Journey: Building Your Dream Our CEO and Co-Founder, Florian Pittini, opening the demo zone keynotes for this year's Cardano Summit at Berlin.

Anyone who has ever stepped foot onto a stage will be familiar with the strange feeling that comes with the realization that you, as an artist, aren’t simply being observed, but consumed. It’s a moment when entertainment becomes an obligation, and, at times, when pain becomes performance for the enjoyment of others.

Although the audience may never know the difference between putting on a show and becoming a spectacle, it’s a fine line artists walk like a tightrope across open air – particularly those who pour their heart and soul into their art.

One such artist is , whose new single Freakshow pulls back the curtain on that very experience – the chaos, catharsis, and haunting beauty of being both the storyteller and the story itself.

Peep the full article for a dive into the making of “Freakshow” and how MIE is reclaiming her art and her agency [link in bio] 🖤