The week of May 24, 2024, marked the unofficial launch of the summer soundtrack. Artists like Sabrina Carpenter were dominating global charts with , establishing a blueprint for modern pop virality where catchy, 15-second soundbites are engineered specifically for TikTok replication. Concurrently, breakout acts like Chappell Roan were scaling the Billboard Hot 100, proving that grassroots digital fandoms could bypass traditional radio gatekeepers entirely. The Kendrick Lamar and Drake Aftermath