Zany Waves 2025 Awards: Best Creative & Music Moments
- Zany Waves
- Dec 29, 2025
- 11 min read
In addition to highlighting our favorite music of the year, we wanted to celebrate some of the most unforgettable creative and live music moments of 2025! Keep reading for our picks for Best Album Covers, Best Creative Directors, Best Tour Photographers, and, last but certainly not least, our standout Music Moments – performances and events that shaped the year and left a lasting mark on pop culture.
Best Album Covers of 2025
Forever Is A Feeling by Lucy Dacus
An original oil painting by New York artist Will St. John was chosen as the cover of an album centered on art. The ethereal painting is of Lucy Dacus herself, with the words “Forever Is A Feeling“ (seemingly) tattooed across her chest in a harsh, American traditional tattoo font. Dacus describes the cover art as a culmination of the historical paintings that inspired her, including those by Modigliani, Soutine, and Toulouse-Lautrec. Not only did she choose this portrait as an ode to her own inspiration, but she also wanted to highlight the beauty of physical art amid the rapid growth of AI art. As Lucy Dacus opened her “Forever Is A Feeling“ tour in Philadelphia, the painting had a brief residency at The Barnes Foundation and was featured in appearances on various late-night talk shows. – Sarah Bruno
Glory by Perfume Genius
For Glory, Perfume Genius ( Mike Hadreas) leaned into imagery that’s as unsettling, personal, and beautifully odd as the music itself. The cover was created with longtime collaborators and art directors Cody Critcheloe and Andrew J.S., and shows Hadreas sprawled on the floor, tangled in extension cords and caught in a pose that feels like both collapse and performance art – almost like a still from an off-kilter movie. It’s a cover that begs to be looked at and explored, and I still find myself noticing something new every time I see it.
“I like how it looks: it could be a dance, or it could be that I'm sick, and there's something wrong with me. That was the thing that felt riskiest about that photoshoot, it could go any way,” Hadreas shared in an interview with Wallpaper, “When we got the pictures back, it felt like a snapshot, almost like a still from a movie. There’s a before and after. It feels like the music, in that it’s earnest and personal, but with absurdity and dramatics, and performance. They’re all allowed to exist at the same time: the meaningful, and the meaningless.” – Emma Zoe Polyak
Man’s Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter
I was initially hesitant to include Sabrina Carpenter’s album cover in this line‑up, as visually it’s not as elaborate as some of the others we’ve chosen, but I felt like I had to mention it – even if just for the discussions and controversy it stirred up. The original artwork for Man’s Best Friend, photographed by Bryce Anderson, shows Carpenter on all fours in a black mini dress and heels, with an out‑of‑frame figure gripping her hair, imagery that immediately ignited debate. Critics argued it leaned on tired and degrading tropes, pandering to the male gaze, while others defended it as satirical and bold, arguing that Carpenter is in control in the image.
Carpenter, for her part, stood firmly by the concept, framing it as a metaphor for control and vulnerability that connects to the album’s themes – and even cheekily released an alternate “approved by God” version in response to the backlash. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that the cover succeeded in sparking conversations about art, agency, and the ways that pop stars navigate provocative visuals in today's heated cultural discourse – and that in itself feels worthy of recognition. – Emma Zoe Polyak
Honorable Mentions
From the Pyre by The Last Dinner Party
Euro-Country by CMAT
Best Creative Directors in 2025
Aidan Zamiri
Based in Scotland, Aidan Zamiri, a director, photographer, videographer, and editor, has recently become a world-renowned creative director. Covering the position of Timothee Chalamet’s photographer and videographer on the A Complete Unknown press tour with Rolling Stones was nothing less than impressive. Zamiri has not been a stranger to the spotlight. Having experience creating music videos and commercials, originality seeps out of his work. He has directed music videos such as “360“ by Charli XCX, “Birds of A Feather“ by Billie Eilish, and “Forever Young“ by Yung Lean. Working with A24 on The Moment, Zamiri documented Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ tour and provided a candid look behind the scenes of the music industry. – Sarah Bruno
Autumn De Wilde
Autumn de Wilde has been a central visual collaborator for Florence + the Machine, serving as photographer, director, and creative director across multiple album cycles. For the band’s 2025 release Everybody Scream, she not only shot the album cover and artwork but also directed the lead singles’ videos and shaped much of the visual campaign, bringing a cohesive cinematic sensibility to the era. De Wilde’s creative direction manages to encapsulate everything there is to love about Florence + the Machine, from the ethereal and witchy spirit of the music to the powerful vocals and lyrics.
Perhaps the most impressive part of de Wilde’s work is how expansive it is. She started out as a rock photographer, capturing bands like The White Stripes, and Deathcab for Cutie, and had even directed a feature length film, Emma (2020), staring Anya Taylor-Joy. Her art is as grand as it is personal, and I can’t wait to see all to come. – Emma Zoe Polyak
Claire Marie Vogel
New York and Los Angeles-based Claire Marie Vogel was responsible for much of the imagery associated with My Chemical Romance’s ”Long Live The Black Parade” tour. This was how I first discovered Claire’s work, and her contributions helped create much of the magic fans associated with the tour. For this project in particular, there was quite a bit of world-building. Claire’s vision and direction were instrumental from the very announcement of ”Long Live,” having directed the first promotional video that laid the groundwork for the world of the tour. Her images were used as part of the set design for the live shows, which brought the fictional world to life in a totally believable way. At no point did it feel cheesy. Vogel’s style made the intricate storylines of the tour feel just as real and dire to the audience as the “characters” believed them to be. – Samantha Blyn
Best Tour Photographers in 2025
Pooneh Ghana
I don’t think there’s a photographer who can capture the thrill of live music quite like Pooneh Ghana. What I love about her work is how she manages to bottle that electricity and raw emotion you feel in a crowd and freeze it into a single frame. Ghana’s been on the road with some of the most exciting artists in the indie and rock world, including acts like Djo, Fontaines D.C., and Noah Kahan. Her use of colors always pops, managing to thread the line of surrealism, especially in her work with Fontaines D.C. And she’s not just behind the camera – Pooneh is also a co‑founder of Todo Records, a creative label/record project she helped start that puts out music and art releases. I truly can’t wait to see what artists she works with in 2026! – Emma Zoe Polyak
Ruth Medjber
As part of the team for Hozier’s massive Unreal Unearth tour, Dublin-based photographer Ruth Medjber captured each show brilliantly. For a tour cycle that lasted about two years, it had to have been challenging to make each performance look different. Through stunning crowd shots, behind the scenes moments, Hozier and the band performing, and details of the beautiful stage design, Medjber not only captured what the show looked like, but conveyed what it must have felt like to be there. Throughout the tour, I looked forward to seeing her work. – Samantha Blyn
Honorable Mentions
Benjamin Zucker covering Mt. Joy’s Hope We Had Fun Tour
Henry Hwu covering Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour
Jasmine Safaeian covering Halsey’s For My Last Trick Tour
Rachel Deeb covering The Lumineer’s Automatic Tour
Best Music Moments of 2025
106 & Park 25th anniversary celebration at the BET Awards
As someone who grew up watching 106 & Park from beginning to end, their celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary at the 25th anniversary of the BET Awards meant a lot to me. The segment was jam-packed with hosts and performers who helped make the show what it was. These hosts included Keshia Chante, Terrence J, Julissa Bermudez, Big Tigga, Free, and AJ Calloway, who introduced each performer. The segment itself, in true 106 & Park fashion, was styled as a countdown with the 106 & Park logos on full display after every introduction and before each performance.
Performers for the night included: Ashanti performing “Happy” and “Foolish,” Jim Jones with “We Fly High,” Amerie singing “1 Thing,” Keyshia Cole performing “I Should Have Cheated,” Mya with “Case of the Ex,” and T.I. rapping “Bring ‘Em Out” and “What You Know About That.” However, the performances didn’t stop there! The highlight of the show for me was the performances with B2K performing “Bump, Bump Bump,” and Bow Wow, who was crowned as Mr. 106 & Park and acted as a co-host for quite a bit. His performance started with a snippet of “Take Ya Home” from his Lil’ Bow Wow days before he went into peforming “Like You.” 106 & Park's amazing anniversary special was a dream come true for every millennial who grew up on the show, especially me. – Cherrelle Johnson
Artist Interactions at Shows
Some of the year’s most unforgettable live music moments were thanks to artists’ playful interactions while on tour. Sabrina Carpenter turned her Short n’ Sweet tour into a viral experience with her playful “cuffing season” gag before performing Juno – grabbing pink fuzzy handcuffs and “arresting” celebrities like Anne Hathway, Drew Barrymore, and Nicole Kidman, and even Miss Piggy. Meanwhile, Role Model made Sally, When the Wine Runs Out into another one of 2025’s playful live traditions. On his No Place Like Tour, he regularly stoped mid‑song to shout “Where’s my Sally tonight?” and pull a fan or famous guest onstage to dance and sing along. Even smaller artists, like the Irish band Inhaler had a “Dublin-ing” routine, where the lead singer Eli Hewson would step down to the barricade during their song “Dublin In Ecstasy” and let a lucky fan sing a few lines and say something to the crowd.
These interactions have gotten mixed reviews, with some criticizing how many of these moments have turned into spectacles involving other celebrities instead of fans. In the case of Inhaler, it has also added to increased queuing, with many showing up over 24 hours before the show starts in order to secure a spot in front in hopes getting noticed. Still, these moments deserve a nod – they made live shows feel surprising, fun, and totally unforgettable. – Emma Zoe Polyak
Brittney Spencer's Performance at the 2025 BET Awards
At this year’s BET Awards, Brittney Spencer delivered a powerful tribute to the late neo-soul legend Angie Stone, performing Stone's iconic hit “No More Rain (in This Cloud).”
Doechii's Acceptance Speech at the 2025 BET Awards
Doechii was nominated for six awards at the 2025 BET Awards and took home the award for Best Female Hip Hop Artist. It was her first BET award, as well. However, what really stood out to me (and others) was her acceptance speech. She thanked BET and gave a nod to everyone else who was nominated. Once she got that out of the way, she focused her attention on the protests happening outside of their location and what the current administration is allowing. She uses her platform to speak up about marginalized communities, and that’ll always be a win in my book. – Cherrelle Johnson
Doechii's Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards
The type of performance that turns heads. With viral songs such as ‘Denial is a River’ & ‘Catfish’, Doechii’s career has skyrocketed in 2025. At the 2025 Grammy Music Awards, Doechii solidified her career as a rapper and became a household name. Wearing nothing but underwear, surrounded by dancers dressed in formal attire, Doechii commanded the stage and completely enthralled the audience. Singing both ‘Catfish’ and ‘Denial Is A River’, her stage presence is nothing to ignore. It is not common to see rap legend Jay-Z and global superstar Billie Eilish giving a standing ovation to just anyone. – Sarah Bruno
Janet Jackson at the 2025 American Music Awards
Janet Jackson made a triumphant return to television at the 2025 American Music Awards, delivering her first televised performance in seven years while being honored for her lasting impact on the music industry with the Icon Award.
Kendrick Lamar's Superbowl Performance
The choreography, the production, the videography, Kendrick’s perfectly timed grins, there’s so much to love. The show kicked off with actor Samuel L. Jackson introducing Kendrick Lamar in full Uncle Sam mode, serving as a commentator in between songs, and making it very clear that Lamar was there to make a political statement. Lamar ripped through tracks like “squabble up,” “peekaboo,” “HUMBLE.,” and “DNA.” before bringing SZA out. And, of course, he cheekily referenced his ongoing beef with Drake in a charged rendition of “Not Like Us,” prompting millions in the stadium and at home to scream along. Even though the Super Bowl was 10 months ago, Kendrick Lamar’s performance is still very much in our minds. The epitome of pettiness, I truly will be carrying his energy into 2026. Watch the performance here. – Emma Zoe Polyak
Kneecap's Big Year
Irish rap trio Kneecap has had one of the most politically charged years in music – not just for their distinctive blend of Irish-infused hip-hop, but for how loudly and consistently they’ve used their platform to speak out on global issues. They made a name for themselves long before 2025 (even releasing a mostly-true biopic about themselves in 2024), but this year felt like a turning point, with their presence truly taking off on a global scale, even amid mounting pressure from various governments.
Their outspoken support for Palestine – including chants of “Free Palestine” at festivals and statements condemning the genocide – has drawn both fierce support and intense criticism. This summer, frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara) faced a terrorism charge in the UK over allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a show, a charge he and the band vehemently denied, saying it was politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissent. A court ultimately threw out the terrorism case, but the timing and lingering repercussions caused the band’s US tour to be cancelled.
Nevertheless, Kneecap’s music and message have continued to attract attention – from packed festival sets where Palestinian flags filled the crowd to debates over freedom of speech, and I have no doubt that they’ll stay in the spotlight next year. – Emma Zoe Polyak
Lorde's Pop-Up in NYC
Debuting a new song in Washington Square Park after getting shut down by the police? That’s it, that’s the moment.
The Streaming Exodus
Dare I say that people are returning to physical media? Admittedly, I may be in a bubble of like-minded listeners, but the streaming exodus feels like a very real phenomenon.
Issues with streaming platforms have existed ever since their inception, but 2025 saw a growing conversation around the future of music streaming, and not just in algorithm updates and new features, but in real, actionable departures from the major platforms. A wave of artists including Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Hotline TNT, The Mynabirds, WU LYF, Kadhja Bonet, and Young Widows all pulled their music from Spotify this year, citing ethical concerns over CEO Daniel Ek’s investments in defense-related AI tech among other issues and rejecting what they call the platform’s corporate priorities.
At the same time, many listeners have reasons for quitting streaming services, from frustration with rising costs and algorithmic playlists to choosing alternatives like Bandcamp or physical media. These alternatives not only foster more intentional listening, but also offer artists far better compensation than the payouts generated by streams. – Emma Zoe Polyak
Yungblud's Ozzy Osbourne Tribute
One of the most moving performances of the year was Yungblud’s cover of “Changes” at Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning, Ozzy Osbourne’s tribute and farewell concert. Held just before Ozzy’s passing, the event was already full of sentimentality, a celebration of his legacy, influence, and impact on generations of musicians. Yungblud’s stripped-back rendition of “Changes” felt especially poignant, tapping into the song’s vulnerability.
Later in the year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, he joined rock icons like Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Nuno Bettencourt for another powerful tribute performance that wove together classics such as “Crazy Train,” “Changes,” and “Mama I’m Coming Home” in a moment that bridged generations of rock and underscored Ozzy’s enduring legacy in music.