Traditionally in the music industry, fall is the time of year when you’ll see the majority of the biggest stars on the planet releasing their new albums. It’s been this way for over a relatively long time now, and there is no end in sight for this trend. But, why is this the case, and what does that mean for 2016?

The “fourth quarter” (getting technical on you now) is the most valuable simply because it’s when the holidays lie, and those special days — Christmas, New Year’s, Hanukkah and several other gift-heavy events — all demand that consumers stock up on presents for their loved ones. Every year, at least a handful of the most popular musicians wait until the last few months to launch full promotional campaigns, complete with singles, videos and albums, because that’s when shoppers may see these new collections on store shelves in big box retailers like Target or Walmart, or perhaps advertised on sites like Amazon, and they’ll snatch up a copy.

Believe it or not, those records that are released during this time period, especially those that come out closer to the end of the year, typically have larger debut weeks, and they may end up selling better than an album by a similar-sized star that was dropped months earlier. People are in a buying mood, and music, which many have stopped purchasing altogether, performs best around this time.

In case you haven’t noticed, this year has been pretty quiet when it comes to the pop and rock stars we’re very familiar with, and while that’s given rise to a new crop of potential legends, many people have been asking where their favorites are for some time now. 2016 is shaping up to be a very full autumn musically, and that’s exciting news. So, who should you be on the lookout for?

The Divas

First up are the queens of pop, because they are the ones that we’ve been waiting on the edge of our seats for. Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Christina Aguilera have all kept their fans at bay for years now, and it’s about time they had something new to share. 

Perry dropped her Olympics anthem “Rise” earlier this summer, and Christina Aguilera had a touching ballad dedicated to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, but there is still supposedly plenty of new music on the way. All three of these women are being secretive about their plans, but it’s generally thought that at least one of them will kick off a new project this fall. We also have a new Britney record planned for the end of August, so that may keep many pop lovers happy for the next few months as well.

The Electro Masters

Electronic dance acts like Major Lazer, The Chainsmokers and maybe even Calvin Harris may also have collections coming, with some confirmed and others only rumored. These artists don’t have the legacy of some of the more famous divas, but they are successful, and they could deliver some much-needed new content in this pop desert that’s making us so thirsty.

All three of these artists have been busy charting big hits this year, and while some may categorize them as “dance” or “EDM,” it’s hard to argue there isn’t some pop in there when songs like The Chainsmokers’ “Don’t Let Me Down” (ft. Daya), Major Lazer’s Justin Bieber collab “Cold Water” and Calvin’s latest Rihanna duet “This Is What You Came For” have all been dominating top 40 radio.

The Freshmen Class

Then there are the pop artists who haven't quite become legends, but who have started making a name for themselves, and who will likely continue to do so with their new albums, many of which have been confirmed for certain days this autumn.

Up-and-coming talents like Shawn Mendes, OneRepublic, Tove Lo and the Joe Jonas-led DNCE should be putting their all into new projects in the next few months, and I’d bet that most of them are not only pretty well done, but that they have at least one serious radio banger each. Mendes and OneRepublic have already seen success with their new singles “Treat You Better” and “Wherever I Go,” respectively, and the latter two are known for their ability to turn anything into an insanely catchy bop.

The Ones With More To Share

Finally, there are those artists whose albums are already out, but in an effort to get in on the holiday action, their record labels will push new singles, videos, and the like. Rihanna, Meghan Trainor, Sia, Fifth Harmony, Ariana Grande and Nick Jonas all have sent recent singles to the upper reaches of the charts this year, and they have more potential hits just waiting to be promoted and picked up by the public.

Any (or hopefully all) of these singers and groups will keep their latest collections going, because most of them were pretty good, and we could use some new radio fodder at this point.

Any way you spin it, this year’s fall appears as if it will be one of the most diverse and exciting for pop music in some time. Whether this music comes from time-tested artists who will go down in history as some of the biggest hitmakers of our time or those that are just starting out, the end of 2016 should be rocking, so turn on the radio and listen for great new tunes.