Six Women Musicians Redefining The Music Scene In 2025

This year’s Grammy’s doubled as a showcase of boundary-breaking women artists — and the ceremony was just the tip of the iceberg. With so many innovative women releasing albums and embarking on tours in the coming months, we have a lot to look forward to.

Here are six powerful women poised to make waves in the music industry this year. Some of them are already A-listers, while others are up-and-coming. All of them are breaking new ground, making space for other strong women in the industry to follow their lead.

Chappell Roan — the chart-topper behind hits such as “Good Luck, Babe!”, “Pink Pony Club,” and “HOT TO GO!” — has changed the game by speaking up about the challenges that come with trying to pursue a nontraditional career path.

Onstage at the 2025 GRAMMYs, Chappell explained that she had trouble affording health insurance while she was trying to get her career off the ground.

“Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection,” she said.

She then donated $25,000 to a fund to support healthcare for emerging artists who have been dropped by their labels. Charli XCX, Noah Kahan, and other artists have since matched her donations, making it possible for new talent to flourish.

Doechii, a rapper born and raised in Tampa, Florida, released her first song on SoundCloud in 2016. Yet it wasn’t until 2021, when her song “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” went viral on TikTok, that she was recognized by the masses as a force to be reckoned with.

Shortly after, she signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, becoming the first female rapper on the label. The 2025 Grammy’s marked a turning point in her career: her album Alligator Bites Never Heal won Best Rap Album. This made Doechii the third woman to win this honor, following in the footsteps of Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. Doechii’s career trajectory has shown fans that, with determination and confidence, women can thrive in male-dominated fields.

Like Doechii, SZA, and Kendrick Lamar, Alemeda is signed to Top Dawg Entertainment — but she doesn’t fit their typical mold. The Ethiopian-American singer-songwriter is the first alternative rock artist to join forces with the label, proving that expressing oneself authentically pays off.

Songs like “Don’t Call Me,” which blends pop structure with powerful percussion and guitars, have racked up millions of streams collectively. All in all, she’s in the perfect position for a big breakout.

Selena Gomez has been a superstar for over a decade at this point — but 2025 is shaping up to be her year. Now engaged to producer Benny Blanco, she has been open about how a happy, healthy relationship has empowered her in her career, as well as in her day-to-day life.

In March, the two released a collaborative album, titled I Said I Love You First. The record tells the story of their relationship, from their first meeting up to the present. Through her example, Selena is rejecting the narrative that you have to have a tumultuous personal life to create good art, demonstrating how crucial it is to surround yourself with people who will cheer on your success and unequivocally support your personal growth.

The Linda Lindas are just teenagers, but they’re already making their mark on the rock world. In 2021, the band — which is half Asian and half Latinx — performed their original song “Racist, Sexist Boy” for the Los Angeles Public Library. The video went viral, attracting the attention of the music industry.

Soon, the Linda Lindas were opening for legends such as Paramore, Green Day, and the Rolling Stones. This year, the girls are embarking on their first headlining tour, stopping in major cities across North America. They’re bound to win over even more fans, paving the way for other youth of color in the process.

Canadian singer-songwriter Jade LeMac started out on TikTok making lighthearted vlogs about her experience as a young queer woman. Her content struck a chord with audiences, and efore she knew it, she had over a million followers.

Her last song “Constellations” has gone viral on multiple occasions, showing that the industry is eager to hear LGBT voices. With a recent nomination for GLAAD Outstanding Breakthrough Artist and an upcoming Lollapalooza set, she’s sure to skyrocket in popularity.