Madison Beer is kicking off a new era with the release of her latest single, “bittersweet,” which has quickly become one of her fastest-rising hits to date. The accompanying music video, written by Beer and co-directed with Iris Kim, is currently in the Top 10 trending music videos on YouTube, earning widespread praise from fans for its cinematic storytelling and emotional depth.

The video opens with a breakup scene between Beer and actor Sean Kaufman (The Summer I Turned Pretty), before transforming into a celebration of self-liberation and a parade bursts into motion — symbolizing renewal after heartbreak. One fan wrote on YouTube, “I need Madison’s team to start promoting her like she deserves, my girl is so talented omggggg,” while another noted the crossover appeal: “The Summer I Turned Pretty and Madison Beer cross paths HELLOO!!???? 😩😩😩”

Lyrically, “bittersweet” captures the tension between heartbreak and self-empowerment, as Beer sings,

“Now that it’s over, you’ll blame it all on me / I know I should be bitter, but baby, right now I’m bittersweet.”

The song, which became Beer’s fastest track to enter the Top 40 on U.S. pop radio, was also featured in her recent performance at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City. The livestream of the show peaked at 2.5 million viewers during her set, propelling Beer to the #1 trending topic on X (formerly Twitter) worldwide.

The momentum around “bittersweet” builds anticipation for Beer’s next studio album, locket, due January 16, 2026, via RCA Records UK. Written and co-produced by Beer, the project features production from longtime collaborators One Love, LOSTBOY, and Leroy Clampitt, and includes her recent singles “bittersweet” and “yes baby.”

According to Beer, the album’s concept took shape early in the writing process. locket, she explained in the official announcement, represents a collection of memories and moments preserved in time — a personal mosaic of her artistic and emotional evolution.

“After writing the album, it feels like each song lives within this metaphorical locket for safekeeping,” Beer said. “Each album feels like an era, and once it’s out in the world, the chapter for me — usually with what I wrote about — is closed.”

Showcasing her growth as a songwriter, singer, and producer, locket promises some of the most vocally dynamic and emotionally charged music of Beer’s career.

Fans on Genius have described “bittersweet” as a track that “expresses her conflicting feelings using the common phrase ‘bittersweet,’ as she feels both anger toward her ex-partner and freedom to find her own happiness.”

Following a trilogy of dance-pop releases this year — capped by her sleek single “yes baby” and its Aerin Moreno–directed video — Beer continues to solidify her place as one of pop’s most compelling and self-directed artists.

Madison Beer’s new album, locket, arrives January 16, 2026, via RCA Records UK.

Author: Andrew Braithwaite

Andrew is the founder and chief editor of Music Talkers. He's also a keen music enthusiast and plays the guitar.