When looking at the upcoming year of music, one name comes to mind in terms of dominating the charts: British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean. Dean has been steadily producing music and growing her following since her 2018 debut; however, it wasn’t until 2025 that she was welcomed into the mainstream. She broke into the Billboard 200 albums chart with The Art of Loving, released in September 2025. Her single, “Man I Need,” gained traction on TikTok, with over 1.6 million videos having been posted to the sound, propelling the song to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
The song’s virality introduced many new listeners to her unique style.“Man I Need” incorporates elements of soul and gospel chords over a swinging rhythm, putting a spin on traditional pop melodies. Her smooth, inviting voice sings romantic verses that speak of crushes and the desperate hope that comes with them. Her ability to blend a diverse array of genres is perhaps what elevated her to the top of a scene oversaturated with repetitive harmonies and chords. The silky quality of her voice lends an intimacy to this breezy pop hit, setting the song apart from other, often shallow, hits.
In an age where trendy stars burn brightly only to be forgotten in a week, Olivia Dean has only strengthened her foothold in the industry since blowing up. She performed as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in November, which helped promote her album beyond the hit single. She sang “Let Alone The One You Love,” which not only displayed the depth and power in her voice belied by the playful verses of “Man I Need” but also expressed more vulnerability through her discussion of shame and heartbreak, demonstrating the breadth of her artistry. Dressed in a long pink gown with her hair styled in classic Hollywood waves, she created a visual connection to an older era of pop that often resonates in her music.
Dean’s ability to maintain relevance past virality is no accident. Although she has only recently reached such a large audience, she was named Amazon Music’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year in 2021. Her incremental rise to fame over the past few years set the stage for the staggering success of The Art of Loving. Her ongoing success is a natural result of years of working and developing as an artist rather than a simple stroke of good luck.
This year, Dean will embark on an international tour, with several dates already sold out. In the midst of tickets dropping, she spoke out in defence of her fans against ticketing companies that allowed resale tickets to exceed $700 CAD. She set herself apart from profit-seeking artists who have done nothing to prevent unreasonable ticket prices by fighting to keep her concerts affordable for average fans.
The first week of January saw her album ascend to number four on the Billboard 200 albums chart, and “Man I Need” reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart. She currently has over 58 million monthly listeners on Spotify and is sure to amass more, as her upcoming tour will reach global audiences. The continued popularity of her music past her short-lived virality and months after the album’s release demonstrates how incremental growth prepares artists to take advantage of their moment and display their years of gruelling work, thus ensuring long-lasting success, not just in 2026, but in the years to come as well.
