New Wave Pop

New wave pop emerged in the late 1970s as a fusion of punk's energy, art rock's experimentation, and pop's catchiness. Characterized by prominent synthesizers, driving drum machines, and distinctive vocal styles often featuring soaring choruses and quirky, new-wave-inflected phrasing, the genre's sound was both futuristic and infectious. Developing from the UK's post-punk scene, new wave pop gained mainstream popularity in the early 1980s, becoming a staple of MTV-era music. Culturally, it embodied the era's blend of futuristic optimism and ironic detachment, influencing fashion, film, and art. While related to synth-pop and post-punk, new wave pop's emphasis on melody and songcraft set it apart, yielding a unique sound that appealed to a broad audience. With its blend of artiness, hooks, and style, new wave pop remains a beloved and enduring genre, its legacy evident in subsequent pop and electronic movements.

Latest New Wave Pop Release
undefined album image
Living Arrows
Album - 12 Tracks - Released April 4, 2025
Top Artists Spotify Logo
Alphaville
a-ha
Tears For Fears
George Michael
Cyndi Lauper
Annie Lennox
Top Playlists
80s HITS - 100 Greatest Songs of the 1980s 33 New Wave Pop artists
80s HITS | TOP 100 SONGS 32 New Wave Pop artists
90s HITS - 100 Greatest Songs of the 1990s 17 New Wave Pop artists
A Retromatic History of Music (or Love), 2023–1960 13 New Wave Pop artists
80s Rock 13 New Wave Pop artists
WYEP's Weekly Mix 11 New Wave Pop artists

RecentMusic users are tracking 190 New Wave Pop artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 4,818 releases .

Join them and feed your new music addiction, and add the New Wave Pop artists you love!

Get Started Browse Arists
  1. April 4, 2025
  2. April 4
  3. April 2
  4. March 28
  5. March 28
  6. March 26
  7. March 25
  8. March 21
  9. March 20
  10. March 14
  11. March 14
  12. March 14
  13. March 5
  14. March 4
  15. February 28
  16. February 28
  17. February 24
  18. February 22
  19. February 21
  20. February 21
  21. February 21
  22. February 21
  23. February 14
  24. February 14
  25. February 12
  26. February 7
  27. February 4
  28. January 31
  29. January 31
  30. January 31
  31. January 31
  32. January 29
  33. January 27
  34. January 17
  35. January 17
  36. January 17
  37. January 15
  38. January 10
  39. January 6
  40. January 3