In 2025, "recession pop"—a distinctive genre characterized by its euphoric, high-energy, and escapist qualities—is experiencing a significant revival, echoing its widespread popularity during the Great Recession of 2008-2012. 
This resurgence is not merely a nostalgic whim but a multifaceted phenomenon driven by evolving consumer behaviors, economic anxieties, and the cyclical nature of popular music, as articulated by radio consultant Guy Zapoleon's theories on music cycles.
Recession pop, as its name suggests, first emerged as a cultural antidote to economic hardship. Artists like Lady Gaga, Kesha, Katy Perry, and Flo Rida defined the genre with their upbeat, danceable tracks that served as a temporary escape from the anxieties of the financial crisis. 
Key characteristics of this sound include euphoric and high-energy beats designed to uplift spirits, carefree lyrics that promote living in the moment and partying, a potent sense of nostalgia for those who remember its original prominence, and a fundamental offering of escapism from real-world worries.
The current return of recession pop in 2025 is fueled by several interconnected factors.
Firstly, the overall growth rate in music streaming, while still positive, is slowing down. Luminate's 2025 Midyear Report indicates that while global on-demand audio streams increased to 2.5 trillion in the first half of 2025, the growth rate has dipped from 15.1% in 2024 to 10.3% in 2025. In the US, the slowdown is even more pronounced, with growth at 4.6% in 2025 compared to 8% in 2024. This deceleration may be prompting listeners to revisit popular music from the past, particularly the infectious hits of the 2008-2012 era. Indeed, Luminate highlights that US on-demand audio streams of pop music from that period have increased by 6.4% in 2025, outpacing the overall industry growth rate.
Secondly, nostalgia plays a crucial role. As Guy Zapoleon's long-discussed pop music cycle theory suggests, musical trends often operate in cycles.
Zapoleon's theory, often described as a 10-year cycle with phases like "Birth/Pure Pop," "Extremes," and "Doldrums," implies a natural ebb and flow of musical styles. The 15-year gap since the initial recession pop boom places its revival perfectly within a generational nostalgia cycle, as those who were coming of age during the Great Recession now look back fondly on the music of their youth.
This is amplified by platforms like TikTok, which have become powerful engines for rediscovering and recontextualizing older songs for new audiences, further fueling the nostalgic trend.
Thirdly, ongoing economic concerns, despite some positive indicators, contribute significantly to the desire for escapist entertainment. The persistent threat of a potential recession in 2025 creates a palpable need for music that offers a sense of carefree fun and positive emotions, mirroring the psychological coping mechanisms observed during the original recession pop era. 
As Luminate's report notes, this desire for escapism and familiarity is driving consumers towards catalog music (tracks older than 18 months), which accounts for a substantial 75.8% market share of total US audio streams in H1 2025.
Finally, contemporary artists are embracing and reinterpreting the recession pop sound. While the term "recession pop" was coined retrospectively, artists like Chappell Roan and Charli XCX are at the forefront of this new wave, alongside veterans like Kesha, who has released new music ("JOYRIDE") that resonates with the genre's spirit. Lady Gaga, a progenitor of the original sound, is also seeing renewed popularity, cementing the idea that the core tenets of recession pop — its upbeat nature, danceability, and celebratory lyrics — remain deeply appealing in times of uncertainty.
In essence, the 2025 recession pop revival is a testament to music's enduring power as a cultural balm. It reflects a collective craving for...

James Gunn’s much-anticipated Superman reboot—simply titled Superman—was meant to usher in a bold new era for the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), but instead, it finds itself mired in ideological backlash, political controversy, and a fractured audience response that could derail the studio’s grand cinematic relaunch.
Starring David Corenswet as a younger, idealistic Man of Steel and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, Gunn’s Superman emphasizes themes of compassion, alienation, and global unity, reimagining the superhero as an immigrant navigating a divided world—a creative decision that has become the lightning rod for both cultural praise and conservative outrage.
The film has received generally favorable reviews from critics, who laud Gunn’s signature blend of heart and humor, as well as its cinematic craftsmanship and emotionally resonant character arcs. But while many applauded the updated portrayal of Superman as a “hopeful alien outsider,” the framing has triggered backlash among certain segments of the American public—particularly right-wing commentators and conservative media, who accuse the film of being "woke" propaganda in a cape.
Former Superman actor Dean Cain, who played the titular role in the 1990s TV series Lois & Clark, criticized the film for abandoning what he described as “traditional patriotic ideals” in favor of “immigrant-first messaging” and “virtue signaling.” He further claimed that the movie tries to appeal to "everyone except the people who made Superman iconic in the first place.”
The discourse around the movie has been amplified by a coordinated online backlash, calling for boycotts and labeling the film as "another failed woke experiment." Social media campaigns under hashtags like #NotMySuperman and #GoWokeGoBroke have surged in the weeks since its release, further politicizing the film’s reception.
This controversy couldn’t have come at a worse time for Warner Bros. Discovery, which entrusted Gunn and producer Peter Safran with rebooting the DCEU from the ashes of previous box office misfires and internal creative chaos. The studio had pinned hopes on Superman to lead a ten-year plan of interconnected films and series, starting with a clean slate after the end of the Zack Snyder era. But the political turbulence around Gunn’s choices may now cast a long shadow over the franchise's future.
Adding to the friction is Gunn’s own active engagement on social media, where he has been unapologetically candid about his values and dismissive of reactionary critics. While his transparency has earned him respect among fans who appreciate his no-BS approach, it has also fueled perceptions among detractors that Superman is less about heroic storytelling and more about culture war sermonizing.
Despite projected respectable international numbers and a modestly successful opening weekend, domestic performance has underwhelmed compared to expectations for a tentpole reboot. Industry analysts suggest the polarizing political framing and lack of four-quadrant appeal may be holding the film back from reaching the mass audience it was designed to court.
The situation places the future of the DCEU in a precarious position. While Gunn still enjoys support from the studio and a loyal fan base, the mixed commercial outcome of Superman may force Warner Bros. to rethink how much political messaging audiences are willing to accept in their superhero blockbusters—especially in an election year when ideological divisions are already at a boiling point.
In the end, Superman may not be judged solely on the strength of its storytelling or visuals, but rather on how it navigated (or stumbled through) the cultural minefield of modern America. And as the DCEU tries to build its cinematic future, it must now reckon with a new villain in its origin story: polarization.
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