PBS Announces New J-Pop Wednesday Featuring Kenshi Yonezu, Hikaru Utada

The music scene in 2025 features a rich diversity of new releases across genres including J-Pop, jazz, metal, and folk. Notable jazz albums include a contemporary NY Jazz-influenced release by the Florence-based sextet Saihs, a posthumous archival recording of Pharoah Sanders from 1975, and a tribute to jazz legend Sir George Shearing by Shear Brass. The metal genre remains vibrant with over 1,500 new releases this year, including new albums from bands like Soen, Aerosmith/Yungblud, and Karnivool. Additionally, folk and jazz fusion projects by artists such as Sara and Rebecca, and UK jazz guitarist Tom Ollendorff showcase a blend of influences from classical to singer-songwriter styles. The J-Pop scene continues its dynamic output with artists like Kenshi Yonezu and Hikaru Utada highlighted. Overall, 2025's music landscape reflects both homage to classic influences and the evolution of modern styles, appealing to a broad range of listeners.