2024 Roundup: Music, Memories, and Milestones
Caspian with ASIWYFA at ArcTanGent by Jez Pennington
As the year comes to a close, we’re overwhelmed with gratitude and awe reflecting on all that’s happened in 2024. Celebrating The Scene’s first birthday, welcoming over 110,000 readers, and working alongside some of our lifelong heroes has been nothing short of surreal. Along the way, we’ve made incredible new friends.
For us personally, it’s been a challenging year—one that tested us in ways we didn’t expect. But this community, this project, this safe haven—building SceneMusicMedia—has been one of the greatest and most rewarding things we’ve ever done. None of it would have been possible without you. Your contributions, your enthusiasm, and your unwavering support have kept us going.
Highlights from 2024
This year, we didn’t just have moments that felt like dreams coming true. Actual dreams came to life. We worked alongside artists who are an intrinsic part of our musical DNA, who have helped shape our ears and ou minds for the better part of our lives. These were people we only dreamed of meeting, or even seeing play live, and their art has been a constant source of inspiration. From intimate conversations to unforgettable shared spaces, these moments were nothing short of magical.
It’s a reminder of how music connects us—not just to others, but to parts of ourselves we never thought we’d reach.
Despite the hurdles, we hit some massive goals:
Welcoming more contributors to the magazine, radio show, and operations, including admin and news support and social media support.
Supporting new creators by expanding our team of photographers and writers.
Opening every radio show with bands that include a person of colour.
Highlighting at least one unsigned artist per week on the radio show.
In terms of some metrics:
Covered 13 festivals: Fest Shalom, Outbreak Summer & Fall, ArcTanGent, Bloodstock, RADAR, Truck, 2000trees, Bearded Theory, Portals, Deadpunk Special, and Manchester Punk
Interviewed 66 artists
Reviewed 84 albums and EPs
Attended, reviewed, and photographed 129 live shows
Highlighted 69 unsigned artists across 48 radio episodes
Spun 512 total artists on the radio
Partnered with Junkbox Apparel
Released a charity CD and donated £100 each to Youth Music and Music Venue Trust
And Kelly was listed in the BIMA100, recognising her as one of the 100 people leading the UK’s digital and tech industries!
2024’s most played artists
If you’ve tuned into our radio show, you’ve probably heard these artists on heavy rotation:
Sweet Pill (67% of all shows)
Winona Fighter & ME REX (58%)
Los Campesinos! (54%)
Other Half (50%)
The Menstrual Cramps & Lakes (46%)
Orchards (42%)
Meryl Streek, Kaonashi, and Bears In Trees (38%)
Special shoutouts to Cherym, itoldyouiwouldeatyou, Love Rarely, Problem Patterns, Supermilk, FRESH, and Carly Cosgrove for delivering some of our most-loved tracks this year.
Looking ahead to 2025
As we gear up for the new year, our goals are ambitious, but they’re all about giving back to this community:
Fairly compensating contributors for their hard work
Opening every radio show with a trans artist or band with a trans member
Continuing to spotlight unsigned artists and demystify the industry for new creators
Expanding our radio show, merch offerings, and maybe even bringing back the street team?
Launching a live performance/streaming series
And creating space to explore the endless project ideas swirling around in our heads
Thank You
Seriously. Genuinely. To everyone who’s read an article, tuned into the radio show, supported our contributors, or cheered us on from the sidelines—thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to more music, more connection, and more memories in the year ahead.
If you’d like to get involved in 2025, drop us a message. We’d love to hear from you.
With love and gratitude,
Kelly & Thom
