Sony Music Iconic Y2K Roster Gets Albums Merch and More

Pop culture is notoriously circular, but some eras never quite go out of fashion. The gaudy shimmer of the ‘80s still permeates music and film, while, more recently, nostalgia for all things Y2K has gripped the collective consciousness. The sounds of the early 2000s — from bombastic bubblegum pop to hook-heavy hip-hop — are as alive in 2025 as they were on “Total Request Live” a quarter of a century ago.

You can hear the frothy hedonism of the dawning millennium on Charli XCX’s all-conquering “Brat,” while Addison Rae dutifully pays tribute to the era’s empowering pop princesses on her acclaimed debut album. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With her mini shoulder bags and maxi skirts, U.K. breakout PinkPantheress lives and breathes the Y2K aesthetic, as do a seemingly endless parade of social media influencers.

For Monica Cornia, senior VP of marketing and partnerships at Sony Music’s Commercial Music Group, that enduring resonance was impossible to ignore. Particularly given the label’s contribution to the era. From *NSYNC and Britney Spears to TLC and Outkast, imprints like Jive and LaFace cranked out hit after hit. “I grew up with so much of this music,” Cornia says. “We knew we had to do something to celebrate its 25th anniversary.”

That “something” became “Y2K25: The Music That Made the Millennium,” a lovingly curated compilation album featuring some of the era’s biggest hits. Released in June on both CD and vinyl, accompanied by a wave of merch, anniversary campaigns and digital content, the project marks a milestone not just for Sony’s roster, but for the generation that grew up on it.

“It was such a labor of love for the team,” Cornia says. “We had so many ideas that it got overwhelming.” Eventually, they settled on a package that balances radio-conquering hits with fan favorites. “We looked at radio play, video impact, album sales,” she says, “but we also wanted to represent not just pop, but hip-hop and rock too.” After all, this was a time when Wheatus jockeyed for chart glory alongside Toni Braxton and Savage Garden.

The blurring of genre runs through the “Y2K25” tracklist, which pairs pop classics like Christina Aguilera’s “Genie in a Bottle” with seminal R&B and hip-hop cuts such as TLC’s “No Scrubs” and Outkast’s “Ms. Jackson.” Also in the mix are Santana’s “Maria Maria” and Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca” — two mammoth chart-toppers that document Latin music’s march into the mainstream in the early ‘00s.

“Those songs were everywhere,” Cornia says, “and videos played such a big role.” What was editorialized as the “Latin Wave,” a movement that included Shakira, Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer Lopez, is now standard chart fare as acts like Bad Bunny, Karol G and Peso Pluma regularly reel off global hits. “It’s fun to look back and see how that Latin influence was becoming a part of pop culture in such a big way,” she says.

While nostalgia is a powerful force, the staying power of these songs isn’t mere sentimentality. From the digital resurgence of *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” following a sync in “Deadpool & Wolverine” (it became the second-oldest title to reach the Global Excl. U.S. top 10 on Billboard) to the TikTok-fueled revival of Wheatus’ “Teenage Dirtbag,” Sony’s early-’00s catalog continues to drive playlists, influence emerging artists and ignite cross-generational fandom.

“Sony introduced me to the world — and the world to me,” says Macy Gray, whose Grammy-winning “I Try” cracked the top 10 in multiple countries and became a staple of Y2K’s eclectic soundscape. “If you get the opportunity to conquer the world, you’ll always be able to release art, because somebody somewhere will be excited about that.” That sentiment is shared by other Sony alumni.

Wheatus frontman Brendan B. Brown remains astonished by the reach of his band’s 2000 breakout hit. “’Teenage Dirtbag’ wasn’t even supposed to be a single — it was too long!” he reflects in the midst of a 25th anniversary tour. “Whatever I intended [back then] isn’t really that important. It lives on in the hearts of others. We’re the luckiest band around.”

Even deep cuts have resurfaced with new relevance. Lit’s 1999 single “My Own Worst Enemy” still gets an audience on their feet, while Fuel’s alt radio-dominating “Hemorrhage (In My Hands)” continues to soundtrack YouTube Shorts and TikTok videos to this day. “Can you believe it?!?” Lit said of the 25th anniversary of sophomore album “A Place in the Sun” on social media. “It changed our world!” Icons also remember the era warmly.

Britney Spears — whose “Oops!… I Did It Again” became the fastest-selling album by a female artist at the time and remains one of the biggest records in history with sales exceeding 20 million — marked the pop bible’s 25th birthday. “[It] was recorded at such an exciting time in my life,” Spears said in a press release announcing an anniversary collaboration with Balenciaga, “and I’m so grateful to my incredible fans for keeping the legacy of this album alive!”

That sense of global reach and timelessness is exactly what Sony set out to honor with “Y2K25.” “We have so much incredible catalog from that time,” Cornia says. “Seeing the wave of nostalgia, it just dawned on us that we couldn’t ignore it.” But even she admits the scope of the idea surprised her. What started as a casual conversation ballooned into a months-long passion project involving a full slate of Sony’s marketers, A&R teams and catalog experts.

“Everyone was so passionate,” Cornia says. “Even the younger team members who weren’t alive then — they were into it because these songs are still everywhere.” In the streaming era, where playlists have replaced compilations, “Y2K25” also serves as a reminder that curation still has a place. “It brings the branding, the visuals and the hits together in a way you can really connect with,” Cornia says.

However, it’s more than just a cozy trip down memory lane. It’s a celebration of an era Sony helped define — and a catalog the company continues to actively nurture. “With so many artists, these conversations were already happening,” Cornia reveals. “We were already working on Backstreet Boys anniversary projects, such as their Sphere residency in Las Vegas. Outkast’s ‘Stankonia’ is also about to have a moment with them being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It wasn’t just, ‘Let’s look back,’ but ‘Let’s keep it going.’”

Sony’s anniversary initiatives stretch well beyond the “Y2K25” compilation. The label has issued special editions, remixes and unique collaborations. They have even rebranded their “Popstruck” channel to serve as a hub for Y2K content all year long. “We’ll keep rolling things out,” Cornia says, hinting at upcoming surprises. Whether it’s soundtracking a blockbuster or popping up on a viral TikTok, Sony’s Y2K roster will remain part of the conversation.

When asked why the era still resonates so strongly, Cornia pauses. “The fashion, the culture — it was just fun,” she says. “It was a simpler time.” And that might be its fundamental appeal in a nutshell. At a time when clouds are gathering and everything feels heavy, the optimism of Y2K, along with its bright colors and slickly produced beats, is intoxicating. “These hits are undeniable,” Cornia says. “They’re going to endure forever.”

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