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
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EVIL WOMAN (The Remixes)
Album - 10 Tracks - Released November 15, 2024

RecentMusic users are tracking 198 New Wave Pop artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 5,252 releases .

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10,000 Maniacs
A Flock Of Seagulls
Ace of Base
Aimee Mann
Alison Moyet
Alphaville
Bananarama
Belinda Carlisle
Billy Idol
Blondie
Bonnie Tyler
Boy George
Boy Meets Girl
Bronski Beat
Bryan Ferry
Cathy Dennis
Climie Fisher
Corey Hart
Culture Club
Cyndi Lauper
D:Ream
DEVO
Dave Stewart
Dead Or Alive
Debbie Gibson
Debbie Harry
Dexys Midnight Runners
Donna Lewis
Donna Summer
Duran Duran
Elvis Costello
Erasure
Eric Carmen
Fairground Attraction
GABRIELLE
George Michael
Go West
Haircut 100
Howard Jones
Huey Lewis & The News
INXS
Irene Cara
Joe Jackson
John Parr
Jona Lewie
Julian Lennon
KC & The Sunshine Band
Kate Bush
Katrina & The Waves
Kim Carnes
Kim Wilde
Kirsty MacColl
Kylie Minogue
Level 42
Lighthouse Family
Lisa Loeb
M People
Matthew Wilder
Miami Sound Machine
Midge Ure
Milli Vanilli
Modern English
Natalie Imbruglia
Nena
Neneh Cherry
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Paul Young
Pet Shop Boys
Republica
Rick Astley
Rick Springfield
Roxy Music
S'Express
Sananda Maitreya
Seal
Sheena Easton
Sheryl Crow
Simple Minds
Sinéad O'Connor
Soft Cell
Sophie B. Hawkins
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Steve Perry
Taylor Dayne
Tears For Fears
Texas
The Cardigans
The Fixx
The Human League
The Jets
The Knack
The Lightning Seeds
Thomas Dolby
Thompson Twins
Tiffany
Tori Amos
Ultravox
Village People
Wendy & Lisa
Wet Wet Wet
Alphaville
George Michael
a-ha
Tears For Fears
Cyndi Lauper
Kylie Minogue
Annie Lennox
Kate Bush
Dave Stewart
Men At Work
Duran Duran
Eurythmics
INXS
The Cardigans
Blondie
Wham!
Billy Idol
Bonnie Tyler
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Ace of Base
Simply Red
Pet Shop Boys
Heart
Natalie Imbruglia
Richard Marx
Starship
Kenny Loggins
Sheryl Crow
The Cars
Simple Minds
Rick Astley
Bronski Beat
Soft Cell
4 Non Blondes
Donna Summer
The Pointer Sisters
Irene Cara
Pat Benatar
Seal
Gloria Estefan
Rick Springfield
Culture Club
Nena
Huey Lewis & The News
Pretenders
Erasure
The Human League
Eric Carmen
Katrina & The Waves
Cutting Crew
KC & The Sunshine Band
Sinéad O'Connor
The Bangles
Billy Ocean
Kim Carnes
Belinda Carlisle
Berlin
Spandau Ballet
Dexys Midnight Runners
Fine Young Cannibals
Laura Branigan
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Village People
Chris de Burgh
The B-52's
Everything But The Girl
Yazoo
Bananarama
Texas
Bryan Ferry
Dead Or Alive
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Matthew Wilder
The Romantics
Roxy Music
Robert Palmer
Paul Young
Kim Wilde
Talk Talk
The Buggles
The Stranglers
A Flock Of Seagulls
Bette Midler
Mike + The Mechanics
All Saints
Lighthouse Family
The Psychedelic Furs
Taylor Dayne
Suzanne Vega
The Beautiful South
Mr. Mister
GABRIELLE
Level 42
The Knack
DEVO
Donna Lewis
Wet Wet Wet
Glenn Frey
Tiffany
Steve Perry