Trivia: Which soul singer was the first woman ever inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? 🤔 (Answer at the bottom.)

Hey y’all, I’m Sam Reyes—but y’all can call me Uncle Sam—your friendly bartender and resident music insider at TipSee. I’m thrilled to welcome you back to The TipSee Buzz after TipSee Music’s big relaunch. We’ll get into the relaunch highlights below, but for now just know this: the Buzz is back, and it’s all about celebrating the music that makes us move. This month’s newsletter is our year‑end wrap‑up with a decidedly homegrown focus. 2025 proved that the U.S. scene—especially our own backyard here in Tennessee—still sets the tone for live music. Country rock got louder, pop got more heartfelt and global sounds found new life on American stages. Grab a drink and settle in; here’s what’s buzzing.

Our “market” update looks at what the TipSee community played most and the broader industry currents driving those choices. Consider this your cheat sheet for bar‑stool debates.

Without the raw numbers, here’s the rundown of the ten most‑requested songs on TipSee Music in 2025. These tracks kept dance floors full and sing‑alongs loud:

One glance at this lineup shows how eclectic your requests were this year. From pop‑punk staples like “Misery Business,” “All the Small Things” and “Sugar We’re Going Down,” to modern country sing‑alongs such as “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” classic barroom anthems like “Friends in Low Places,” and rock standards like “Mr. Brightside” and “Sex on Fire,” your choices span eras and genres. This diversity mirrors the broader music landscape in 2025, where fans embraced both familiar names and emerging voices, and pop and country surged while cross‑genre collaborations flourished.

Here’s how the artists ranked by share of total requests, stacked from most‑requested to least‑requested:

These percentages reveal a tug‑of‑war between country titans like Wallen and Combs and pop‑punk royalty such as Paramore and Blink‑182, reflecting a crowd that loves both whiskey‑soaked anthems and mall‑punk nostalgia.

What’s happening: Remember when country meant acoustic guitars and soft storytelling? Not anymore. Bands like Treaty Oak Revival and Ole 60 infused rock’s distortion into country, adding roaring drums and electric riffs. They packed out bars in Nashville and across the South, winning over both traditionalists and rock kids.

Why it matters: Young listeners raised on rock and punk feel at home here. It also signals a broader appetite for heavier instrumentation in mainstream country—perhaps paving the way for more genre‑blending festival lineups.

Big picture: Expect country radio to sound louder and rowdier in 2026. Established artists may start experimenting with heavier sounds to stay relevant, while newcomers leverage TikTok to push mosh‑friendly anthems into honky‑tonks.

– New Venue on the Horizon: Live Nation has announced The Truth, a 4,400‑capacity indoor music venue coming to Nashville’s Wedgewood Houston neighborhood in fall 2026. Designed to blend raw, honest music with world‑class production, the space will feature flexible seating, a whiskey bar named Harlan’s and a Vinyl Room. It aims to honour songwriters and invest in the city’s creative community, ensuring Nashville’s spirit keeps evolving.

We have some big news to share: TipSee Music’s technology was recently granted a U.S. patent and is in the process of being finalized. The patent, titled “Artist Live Performance Booking Management Platform,” covers a suite of features that make our jukebox experience unique. Here’s a peek at what’s protected:

In short, this patent confirms what we’ve been working toward: a defensible technology that protects artists, builds trust with fans and gives venues and promoters full transparency across the live performance economy. We’re excited to roll out more features in the coming months.

If you’re looking for the perfect pint to pair with your playlist, we’ve got good news. TipSee Music has teamed up with Michael Waltrip Brewing Co. as our official beer. NASCAR legend Michael Waltrip launched the brewery in March 2020 and, after pausing during the pandemic, he relocated the operation to a historic facility in Bristol, Virginia. There, Waltrip’s team pours around 20 different beers, constantly experimenting with new styles to keep the lineup fresh. The brewery’s success has spurred expansion to Charlotte, North Carolina, and Waltrip plans to open 100 taprooms across America over the next five years. At its core, the mission is simple: make a good beer that brings people together and leave the politics at the door. We’re proud to raise a glass of Waltrip’s craft brew at every TipSee event.

TipSee Music is also proud to partner with Four Branches Bourbon as our official bourbon. Founded in 2023 by four veterans representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, the company honors fallen friends and supports those who continue to serve. Co‑founder Rick Franco says the inspiration came from Greg Wright Jr., a Marine and CIA contract officer who sacrificed his life to help save others while on a mission. Since May 2023 the founders have raised more than $400,000 for nonprofits that support veterans, first responders and their families through bottle auctions and direct donations. Beneficiaries include organizations such as Folds of Honor, the Third Option Foundation and the Special Forces Association. Their motto—“Serve Honorably, Drink Honorably, Sip to Remember”—captures a commitment to honouring service through every pour. We couldn’t imagine a better bourbon to accompany TipSee’s live shows and storytelling.

Think you knew it? The answer is Aretha Franklin. In 1987 she became the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—a testament to her status as the Queen of Soul.

Thanks for spending part of your day with me. As we head into 2026, I’m excited to see which genre mashups our community will fall in love with next—and which of you will be brave enough to request something totally unexpected. If you enjoyed this edition of The TipSee Buzz, please spread the word and invite friends to join me every month for more stories, stats and surprises. Keep your glasses raised and your playlists diverse.

—Uncle Sam