E9: 2025 Pop Culture Forecast: Music, Movies, Concerts, and K-Pop Magic!

Get ready to kick off 2025 with a bang! 🎉 In this episode of BibimPOP with Sean, we dive into the year’s most exciting pop culture predictions: From jaw-dropping music releases by icons like Lady Gaga to can’t-miss concerts in Las Vegas featuring Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Shania Twain. We’ll also chat about blockbuster movies that have us counting down the days (Freakier Friday, anyone?), plus the latest buzz in K-Pop, including Stray Kids, Treasure, and BTS updates. Whether you’re a Little Monster, Marvel Fanatic, or K-Pop Stan, there’s something for everyone in this episode. Hit play, subscribe, and let’s unpack & get excited for 2025 together! 🌟

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to Episode 9
• 6:31 2025 Music
• 9:12 2025 Concerts
• 16:42 2025 Movies
• 23:10 2025 K-Pop
• 27:02 Subscribe, Follow, Like, & Share

Transcript

Hello. Hello and welcome to episode nine of BibimPOPwith Sean, where pop culture ate. Look at us. We are one week into 2025. How are we feeling about the new year so far? I'm still excited and I feel very positive heading into 2025, although I did learn recently that apparently 2024 was supposed to be my year because it was my Chinese zodiac year year of the Dragon, and I knew this back in January February of last year and even did some fun Chinese New Year celebrating at Disneyland, which was so fun.

But then I just totally forgot. And so I have like this month of January left before it just turns over to the year of the snake. What am I going to do so that I can live out the rest of my year, the year of the Dragon? And you know what? One of these days I would love to go to an Asian country during the Lunar New Year celebrations.

I feel like that would be so exciting and fun and what a cultural experience that would be. Definitely putting it on my list for maybe 2026, and I can't really. I can't believe I'm making plans for 2026 and we're just starting 2025. Who am I? Speaking of goals and making plans, do you have any 2025 resolutions? If so, I would love to hear about them.

I was reading an article published on December 31st, the last day of 2024 by CBS about New Year's resolutions, and this is what it had to say. Quote, A 2023 poll from Forbes Health found most people give up resolutions after less than four months. According to the survey, just under 1 in 10 people, 8% said their resolutions lasted a month, 21.9% reported two months, 22.2% reported three months and 13.1% said their resolutions lasted four months.

Only 1% said they lasted for 11 or 12 months. Close quote I find this surprising. I'm surprised that a lot of people, as far as the data shows, do not meet their New Year's resolutions. And maybe that's why I feel like a lot of people aren't setting resolutions. I feel like I don't hear people talking about New Year's resolutions as much now as maybe we used to.

Even in like, school. I remember being in high school and my teacher is talking about New Year's resolutions. What resolutions are we going to say? And giving time to the students in the class to set resolutions. And that was like a thing every year. And I feel like I don't know if that happens where you are. I feel like that's not a thing right now.

And so I'm wondering, is there a shift in our country of setting New Year's resolutions? Is it no longer a thing? Let me know. Well, in this article, CBS interviewed an author, Justin Hale, who is a consultant in the leadership space, and he said to CBS, quote, research shows that 40% of what we do day in and day out are habits.

Habits are things that you do without even thinking. You do these things like a routine habitually, almost automatic. The problem is people, when they want to be better in the new year, they never focus on understanding what are the exact behaviors that I need to be done to turn into habits, and what's the plan I'm going to create to make that thing habitual?

Close quote. He gives an example. Quote I want to run more in the new year too. I'm going to run 30 minutes each day. Close quote. He continues. Quote. It's really specific and really clear, really measurable. Building new habits in the new year is less about grit and willpower, and it's more about having the right plan to make that new behavior habitual.

Close quote I totally agree. You know, when I started 2024, I really wanted to focus on my overall health, and I thought a great goal would be working out every day. And while that would be wonderful if I could, I realized that it wasn't very realistic. What about days when I'm really busy, or when I'm traveling, or when I'm sick?

Am I really going to work out every single day, or am I just setting myself up for failure and frustration because that goal for me was not realistic? So I changed it to just overall becoming more healthy and physically active. And while I feel like I accomplished that, the goal wasn't very measurable. I exercised 254 days in 2024 and spent 261 hours on the stair stepper.

So now for 2025, my goal is to at a minimum maintain that. And I have some specific indicators now, such as days exercised and hours doing cardio. Another New Year's resolution of mine is to continue this podcast, BibimPOP with Sean by posting at least two new episodes every week. I'm also building in some grace for myself and allowing myself five weeks where I post one episode in the event of a life happens moment, because there's so much that happens in life that you just can't anticipate.

What if my microphone breaks? I don't know, I need to allow myself some flexibility, and I hope that if you're setting some New Year's goals and resolutions that you allow yourself some flexibility as well. Sending you all the best energy. I'm cheering you on. I hope you can meet your resolutions that you have set. I'd love to hear what your resolutions are.

I'm always looking for new ideas. Please let me know. I am really excited for today's episode because I am talking about what I am most excited for in 2025. We're going to talk about music, concerts, movies, and we're going to get a little K-pop in there too. All right, ready? Set. Let's see what 2025 has in store.

For 2025 is already set up to be a gift for us Pop tarts. I can tell when it comes to music. I love that some things are planned and anticipated, while other things come as a complete surprise. For example, when Taylor Swift just decides on a whim to drop a new full length album, who knows what surprises we're going to get in 2025?

But for now, we can get excited for what we do know early in 2024. Lady Gaga's Chromatica Ball concert film debuted on HBO Max, and at the end, she announced that new music was coming but did not indicate when. Then, months later, in September of 2024, she teased a new album for sometime this upcoming February, Little Monsters, what Lady Gaga calls her fans are thrilled, and I am certainly one of them.

Her single disease is out now and it is so catchy. I cannot wait to hear new music from Lady Gaga in more music news, Tate McRae is back with her third full length album So Close To What, coming out on February 21st from various sources. I am learning that this record is diving into the messy and exhilarating ride of growing up.

It's an honest look at self-discovery, navigating love, and finding some kind of balance when life feels like it's pulling you in every direction. It sounds like if you're ready for an album that captures the raw, emotional whirlwind of just figuring it all out, this one is for you. And you know what? I feel like I'm in a constant state of figuring it all out, so I'm definitely excited to give Tate McRae McRae's new album a good listen and the music albums just keep coming.

Bad Bunny just dropped an album this month, and the weekend has an album coming out on January 24th. Later this year on May 21st. Lana Del Rey. I'm so excited. Lana Del Rey has an album coming out titled The Right Person Will stay, and we also know about some other albums that are supposed to be released in 2025.

Although we do not have dates yet. Joe Jonas has an album, music for the People Who Believe in Love, and Megan Thee Stallion has an album, Megan. Act three. Of course, in the music world everything can change. But for now, this is what we know. What music news are you excited about? Okay, pop tarts, if you are liking this content and our discussion, just remember to please subscribe, follow, like and share BibimPOP with Sean.

And you know we cannot talk about music for 2025 without talking about the concerts that are in store for 2025. I'm hoping that I can make it to at least a few shows here and there. And for this segment, let's talk about the concerts that will be at the Concert Capital of the world, Las Vegas. Las Vegas residencies are always exciting to talk about.

I love that artists can just set up shop and allow their fans to come to them. There's something so special about going to see a Las Vegas residency show. It almost feels as if you get to visit the artist in their home, instead of them coming to perform for a night or two in your area. Las Vegas shows just feel more intimate and there's just a different vibe.

I've seen Carrie Underwood, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, to name a few at their Las Vegas residencies and every show that I've seen is just so fantastic. The venues, like the event centers themselves, are a little smaller, and maybe that's what makes it special and more intimate, I don't know. Have you been to a Las Vegas residency concert? I would love to hear about it.

Here are some Las Vegas residencies for 2025 that we can look forward to. The one and only Janet Jackson is at the Resorts World Theater at Resorts World Las Vegas. This concert is sure to be iconic. I feel like Janet doesn't put on too many shows, so you will definitely want to catch her while she's in Las Vegas, because there's no telling when she'll be back.

Shania Twain in her show Shania Twain Come On Over the Las Vegas residency. All the hits That's a Long Name is going to be at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. I love Shania Twain. I saw her a few years ago at Madison Square Garden in New York City with my friend Adele, and we were on the floor and Shania came around on the floor and shook my hand.

I'm not even kidding. She shook my hand. I might have to post a video of this. And honestly, just a core memory for me. Something I'll never forget. Her shows are an absolute party. Anyone who wants to go see Shania Twain at her Las Vegas residency let me know. I Am So Down and Mr. Worldwide himself. Yes, Pitbull will have a show titled Pitbull Vegas after Dark The Residency, and he will be at.

Okay! I don't know how to say this, so if you know how to say this, please correct me. It looks like it. Fontaine blue, but I believe it's Fontainebleau. Fontainebleau. Anyway, let me know if you actually know how to say that. That's where he'll be performing in Las Vegas. I really like Mr. Worldwide. I think he's fun. He has a lot of energy and his beats are just party anthems.

I've never seen him in concert, so who knows, maybe 2025 will be the year of me getting to see Pitbull live. I would love to know if you've seen him live and what his show is like. Would you recommend guess who else has a Las Vegas residency in 2025? It's Mariah Carey in Mariah Carey, the celebration of Mimi live in Las Vegas, and she'll be performing at the Park MGM.

I'm just wondering, is she going to stop in the middle of the show and say, I'm waiting? Because if so, I am so down, I will get my tickets ASAP. I think this is going to be a show for the masses. I would love to see Mariah Carey in her residency in Las Vegas. She has such a brand around her that you know, she will only put on a show.

That is something that is absolutely and completely something that she has designed, created and is excited about. For you country fans out there, Blake Shelton has a residency in 2025 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which is a spectacular and very popular venue. Will I be going? Most certainly not. We also have another country star performing at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, none other than Garth Brooks.

I can't wait to also not go to this concert. I'm totally joking. I'm sure country fans will have a great time. Here's the thing I like country pop music, but pretty much only women who do country pop like Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood. So I guess my exposure to country music is just a little limited. If you have any recommendations for me, send them my way.

I would be happy to give them a listen and who knows, maybe I am a country fan and I just don't know it yet. Okay, so I cannot live in Utah and not mention one of the most, if not the most famous Mormon performer, Donny Osmond. He will be performing at Harrah's Las Vegas. I'm sure my dad's sisters, my aunts will all be attending at some point.

And shout out to my grandma who loves Donny Osmond! The Black Eyed Peas will also have a 2025 residency at Planet Hollywood. If I go to this concert, I better leave singing Tonight's the Night. Let's live it up. I got my money, let's spend it up. I feel like Black Eyed Peas would be a lot of fun to see another pop group that will be performing in Las Vegas is maroon five.

They will have a residency at Park MGM. Honestly, I went to a maroon five concert back when I was in high school, and this was right when maroon five was just becoming big. I have to say their concert was probably one of the most disappointing concerts I have ever been to. I sat on the floor and I was really close to the stage.

I was maybe ten rows from the stage and it was not engaging at all. It felt like maroon five was just there to work. They didn't seem excited, they didn't look like they were having fun. And I left feeling like, I don't know about this maroon five group. You know, this was back when the song she Will Be Loved was big.

Now I feel like they've done a lot of work. I really like some of their newer music that's come out in the last decade or so, and so who knows, maybe they put on better shows now. I have to say though, back when they were first starting, their shows were not good. They just were not good. Well, the one show I went to one show in Philadelphia, so I'll just say that one show was not good.

Who knows, maybe they're just having an off day, but it kind of left me with a sour taste, and I haven't really wanted to see maroon five in concert since then. So if you've been to a maroon five concert and you've had a different experience, maybe a better experience, please let me know so that maybe I can feel reinvigorated again to see maroon five in concert.

Who knows, maybe I'll end up at their Las Vegas show this year. I probably won't, but we'll see. And Carrie Underwood continues her residency at Resorts World Las Vegas. I talked about going to her residency on a previous episode. It's fantastic. You need to go. This is definitely a must see. You need to go to show. And New Kids on the block will have a residency in Las Vegas at Park MGM.

Boy band say Las. I would love to go see New Kids on the block perform, and there are so many more residencies happening in Las Vegas. Josh Groban, Barry Manilow, Keith Urban Las Vegas really is the concert capital of the world. If you're looking for a good concert, you'll find one in Las Vegas in 2025. From this list, who would you be most excited to see?

Right now, we also have some feature films to get excited about for 2025. Here are a few on my list. Captain America Brave New World comes out on February 14th. Marvel fans, are you ready? It's looking like 2025 is going to be a marvel movie year in 2024. Deadpool and Wolverine was really the only Marvel Marvel movie that came out, if you know what I mean.

Like Madame Web and Venom and Kraven all came out in 2024 as well. But those were like Sony movies in association with Marvel and don't really tie in, I feel, to the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe that's being developed. And this year, 2025 does have more Marvel Marvel movies, if you know what I mean, starting with this one Captain America, Brave New World, this movie is a continuation from the story The Falcon and the Winter soldier, which aired on Disney Plus as a television series.

Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, has officially stepped into the role of Captain America Shield and all, but now faces a different challenge of uncovering a conspiracy to assassinate the president, played by Harrison Ford, who is no stranger to playing presidents under fire. For joining Wilson on this high stakes mission is Danny Ramirez as the new Falcon. And did I see in the trailer for this movie that the president is going to be turning into the Red Hulk?

You know I Love me, a political action thriller. Let's go. I am excited for this movie, another movie that I'm excited to see, but maybe excited to see in a different way is Snow White, which comes out on March 21st. There's already been a lot of controversy around this movie. People are upset about the CGI seven dwarves. There are also a lot of people that just don't seem to like Rachel's, Zegler and Gal Gadot.

I don't know, I think is a weird casting choice for the evil Queen. And really, Snow White has never been like the best story. Anyway, it's out dated, tired, and boring. However, I am excited to see how this live action movie will all come together because if I like it, great. If I don't, then I'm sure to get a lot of good laughs out of it.

Thunderbolts is another Marvel movie coming out this year. On May 2nd. Pop off Marvel. The whole Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, has been steadily building up a roster of just morally gray characters, if you will. Like anti-heroes, think Winter soldier, Red Guardian and now they've pulled them all together into one team for a movie where they face an even bigger, more catastrophic threat.

It's kind of giving DC's Suicide Squad energy, which wasn't my favorite, although it was entertaining, really. I'll see anything with Florence Pugh, so count me in. I'm excited to see Thunderbolts that comes out on May 2nd. Another movie that has me excited in 2025 is Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning. And even though final is in the title of this movie, I don't believe that Tom cruise will ever be done with the Mission Impossible movies, and I'm totally fine with that.

They are fun, they're enjoyable, many are predictable, and I kind of like that predictable energy every now and then. Okay, get ready for this one. I am so stoked for this Disney movie Freaky Friday, which comes out on August 8th. Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis are back and they're at it again. I could not if you can't tell by like my voice right now, I could not be more excited for this movie.

Their Freaky Friday movie quite literally changed my life. Who remembers Lindsay Lohan's song ultimate? You're red, you're the ultimate. It's automatic. I'm sure of it. No lie. So don't even try to tell me that you're not the guy. Oh my gosh, it's so good. It's so good. Maybe we'll get like, another rendition of that song. I would love that so much.

After seeing the first Freaky Friday movie, I kid you not, I picked up electric guitar lessons after seeing the movie. Ask my mom how that went. Not good. I never practiced, I just I'm not good at instruments. Sorry. That's a fixed mindset. I don't put into practice to be good at instruments. Anyway, this movie I am so excited for, I cannot wait.

How are you feeling about Freakier Friday Pop Tarts? It's going to be great. I already know it and there are so many more movies this year to get excited for. Companion comes out on January 31st. This looks like it's going to be a real suspenseful movie, so I'm excited about that black bag on March 14th, which looks like it's a spy thriller movie.

I love that the wedding banquet on April 18th, this is going to be a great movie. I can already tell for the LGBTQ plus community. Elio, the new Pixar movie coming out on June 13th. I'm excited for this one. It looks super cute. Megan 2.0 on June 27th. This movie looks super spooky. It's a sequel to the first Megan movie.

I wonder if this new Megan is going to be doing her iconic dance. I don't know, we'll have to see Jurassic World Rebirth on July 2nd. Another good action movie coming out for the summer. Superman is coming out in July as well. Some of you might be excited. I'll be honest, I'm done with Superman movies. They've been so disappointing and I would really need to hear really good reviews about this one in order for me to see it.

So if you're excited, let me know. Another Marvel movie. I told you 2025 is going to be a great Marvel year. Fantastic four first steps comes out on July 25th. This one better be better, better be better. It better be better. It better be better than the last one. Another movie Wake Up Dead Man and Knives Out Mystery sometime in 2025.

We don't have a date yet. I love mystery movies and this one has a great cast like the other Knives Out mystery movies. Daniel Craig of course, Andrew Scott, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, and more. I'm very excited for this movie. We've also got at the end of this year, wicked for Good on November 7th and Avatar Fire and Ash coming out on December 19th.

What movies are you most excited for as we go into 2025?

Are you all right? I also am very excited about 2025 K-pop. There's a lot happening in the K-pop world always, and I'm gearing up for a great year of more K-pop BFFs. A subunit of the popular boy band 17 is coming out with an album titled Teleparty. This subunit features DK, Hoshi and Seungkwan. The album is set to release this month.

The album's title is a blend of telepathy and party, and suggests a celebration of deep connection and shared experiences. The promotional material so far seems to hint at a fresh yet playful energy for this album. I'm really excited, although I believe promotions for a party have been temporarily paused out of respect for the victims of the Jeju Air tragedy.

In fact, the release of this album may be postponed. Blackpink's Lisa has a highly anticipated debut solo album coming out called Alter Ego. It drops on February 28th. She has already built excitement with a stunning three minute album trailer, following up on an earlier teaser. In the video, Lisa travels through surreal landscapes from a black rock structure to a cyberpunk space catwalk, an enchanted garden, a glowing green motorcycle track and a fiery red runway.

If you haven't seen the trailer, go look it up on YouTube. The visuals are stunning and will make you really excited for the release of Lisa's album, Alter Ego and more K-pop news SM entertainment, one of the largest K-pop record labels, is commemorating its 30th anniversary with the SM Town Live 2025 tour, featuring a special concert in Los Angeles on May 11th of this year, which will be held at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The concert will feature artists including Super Junior, NCT dream, WayV, Riize, and NCT wish and more. I really, really, really, really like really, really want to go. I was talking with my husband. I think maybe I'll just get my tickets today. It sounds so fun and I am definitely a fan of many of these great groups. Stray kids are also going on tour this year, and for this concert I do already have my tickets.

I'm so excited to see them perform in Seattle in May. If you don't know Stray Kids and are interested in becoming familiar with their music, give a listen to some of my favorite songs by them, including Stray Kids, Chk Chk Boom, Runners, Maniac, and Lose My Breath with Charlie Puth. The K-pop group Treasure just announced that they're going to have a U.S. leg of their tour.

There are so many concert tickets I need to get. I don't know how I'm going to see all these shows between the Las Vegas residencies and the K-pop shows I want to go to, how am I going to prioritize what concerts I go to, and some of the absolute most exciting news in K-pop that I cannot wait to cover more of this year is the return of all BTS members as they end their military service.

There is speculation that 2025 will be spent with the members gathering again to record new music and train, rehearse and prepare choreography for music videos and shows with the release of new content in early 2026. Again, all of this is very speculative right now, but I am here for all the BTS updates. I am so excited! Are you excited for the return of BTS?

I would love to hear.

All right, my pop tarts. That's a wrap on episode nine. Thank you so much for listening. I don't know about you, but after doing this podcast episode, I am even more excited for 2025. How are you feeling about 2025? In pop culture? Stay tuned for episode ten. I can't believe the 10th episode of BibimPOP with Sean will be releasing soon.

Thank you so much for listening. It means so much to me. Just as a reminder, episodes will release on Tuesdays and Thursdays and remember to subscribe, follow, like and share BibimPOP with Sean. Your follows. Your subscriptions will help me to be motivated to put out more content. You can also follow me on social media for updates @bibimpopwithsean on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok and @bibimpopsean on X, formerly Twitter.

You can also visit my podcast website bibimpopwithsean.buzzsprout.com. Thanks so much again for listening to BibimPOP with Sean where pop culture ate.