Logo Hashtag Legend

2024 Wrap-Up: 6 Unforgettable Entertainment Moments of the Year

Author: Pimpichaya Chaikittiporn | Photographer: Courtesy of Netflix, Disney+ and Artists

Dec 29, 2024

"...As we approach the end of the year once again, the entertainment industry in 2024 has seen many events that can be called significant phenomena across film, music, and television. Today, #legend_th has gathered 6 major phenomena in the entertainment world, including the concert tour of the era’s leading female artist, Taylor Swift, the hit song of the year 'Espresso' by Sabrina Carpenter, the chart-topping song 'APT.' by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, the return of the highest-viewed Netflix series of all time, 'Squid Game,' the Thai film that has been nominated for major awards, and the rise of Yuri series that have helped propel Thailand's soft power..."

Taylor Swift’s Concert of the Era: The Eras Tour

Taylor Swift is undeniably the artist of the era and one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry. Her most recent major concert tour, The Eras Tour, has reinforced her lasting influence and reputation. The tour began on March 17, 2023, and is set to conclude on December 8, 2024. This marks her sixth tour, and she explained that this concert would take fans through the various eras of her music and albums. The tour has created a phenomenon unlike any before. Over 3.5 million people registered for early ticket sales on the Ticketmaster website in the U.S., and more than 2.4 million tickets were sold on that day alone. This broke the record for the highest number of concert tickets sold in a single day. As a result, The Eras Tour has been incredibly successful and is now referred to as the "billion-dollar concert," surpassing $1.088 billion in revenue, making it the first-ever concert in the world to generate over a billion dollars.

Sabrina Carpenter's Espresso: A viral hit of 2024

When it comes to the most ear-catching songs of 2024, Espresso by Sabrina Carpenter is certainly one of them. This is confirmed by its impressive 1.6 billion streams on Spotify, making it the most-streamed song of the year. Since its release, the track has gone viral and continued to dominate throughout the year. Sabrina Carpenter is quickly becoming one of the most exciting rising stars to watch, thanks to the success of three viral hits: Espresso, Please, Please, Please, and Taste, all of which held positions in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks. She also became the first female artist in 66 years of history to achieve this milestone. Additionally, she appeared on the cover of TIME magazine as part of the TIME 100 Next List, celebrating the most influential people of the future, with the tagline: “Carpenter is reaping the benefits of her persistence.”

Rosé breaks records with APT. and global success 

Now, turning to the K-pop artist Rosé, who set a record for the highest debut in history for a female K-pop artist on Spotify Global with her song APT., which garnered 6.85 million streams. The song achieved worldwide success, with the viral hook ‘아파트 아파트 아파트아파트 아파트 아파트Uh, uh huh uh huh’ spreading like wildfire. With its catchy melody, fun sound, and a feature from global superstar Bruno Mars, APT. skyrocketed in popularity. Additionally, Rosé made history by becoming the first solo K-pop artist to reach 100 million views on a music video on YouTube. This success also earned Rosé and Bruno Mars the Global Sensation award at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, South Korea's biggest annual music awards ceremony.

Squid Game 2: Record-Breaking Return and Emmy Wins

Another significant phenomenon this year was the return of the number one series with the highest viewership of all time on Netflix, Squid Game. It was guaranteed success with over 1.65 billion hours streamed within just four weeks, with the first season being watched 330 million times globally from a production budget of only $21 million. Additionally, the series earned worldwide acclaim, securing numerous prestigious nominations and winning six Primetime Emmy Awards. The immense popularity of Squid Game has left fans eagerly awaiting the direction the upcoming season will take. The trailer alone soared to the number one spot in views, and Squid Game 2, consisting of seven episodes, is now available to stream on Netflix.

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies: Pioneering a New Era in Thai Cinema

‘How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ is another excellent film from GDH that has earned over 1 billion baht, making it the most successful Thai film of all time in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Its popularity, word-of-mouth buzz, and a simple yet impactful script that resonated with audiences worldwide have led to the film being nominated for a prestigious global award – the 97th Academy Awards (Oscars) in the Best International Feature Film category. There are 15 films in this category that made it to the shortlist, and the committee will vote to narrow it down to the final five. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see if How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies will make it to the final five. The awards ceremony will take place on 2nd March 2025.

Girl's Love Series: Boosting Thailand's Soft Power

Throughout 2024, it is undeniable that the Girl’s Love series has gained immense popularity, especially with the rising stars Freen Sarocha and Becky Rebecca, who have continued to capture the spotlight since Gap: The Series, as well as in period dramas like The Loyal Pin. Another popular pair, Ling Ling Kong and Aom Kornnapat, rose to fame through The Secret of Us. Both couples from the Girl’s Love series have created new phenomena in the entertainment industry, while also helping to promote Thailand's Soft Power internationally. The series has received positive responses from global audiences, making the two pairs of actresses widely recognised on an international scale. The fame of these four actresses has also led them to collaborate with various global brands. It is exciting to see how the Yuri or Girl’s Love genre will continue to rise in global popularity, and how Thailand will further push this genre to international recognition in the future.

Also See: 2024 Wrap-Up: A look back at the hottest makeup trends of 2024

RECOMMENDED READS