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
Hotel California
Single - Released December 25, 2025

RecentMusic users are tracking 207 New Wave Pop artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 6,515 releases

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

Get Started Browse Releases
'Til Tuesday
A Flock Of Seagulls
Aimee Mann
All Saints
Alphaville
Annie Lennox
Belinda Carlisle
Bette Midler
Billy Idol
Blondie
Bonnie Tyler
Boy George
Boy Meets Girl
Bronski Beat
Bryan Ferry
Cheap Trick
Cher
Chesney Hawkes
Christopher Cross
Cliff Richard
Climie Fisher
Cowboy Junkies
Culture Club
D:Ream
DEVO
Dave Stewart
Debbie Gibson
Don Henley
Donna Lewis
Donna Summer
Duran Duran
Fairground Attraction
Fine Young Cannibals
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Gary Numan
Glass Tiger
Gloria Estefan
Goldfrapp
Heaven 17
Howard Jones
INXS
Irene Cara
James
Jimmy Somerville
Joe Jackson
Juliana Hatfield
Kim Carnes
Kim Wilde
Kylie Minogue
Limahl
Marc Almond
Melanie C
Men Without Hats
Mike + The Mechanics
Modern English
Naked Eyes
Neneh Cherry
Olivia Newton-John
Paul Carrack
Pet Shop Boys
Pretenders
Richard Marx
Rick Astley
Rick Springfield
Roxy Music
Sarah McLachlan
Seal
Sheena Easton
Sheryl Crow
Simple Minds
Simply Red
Sinéad O'Connor
Soft Cell
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Sorana
Spandau Ballet
Squeeze
Steve Perry
Suzanne Vega
Talk Talk
Tanita Tikaram
Tasmin Archer
Tears For Fears
Texas
The B-52's
The Beat
The Boomtown Rats
The Church
The Primitives
The Smithereens
The The
The Waterboys
Thompson Twins
Tiffany
Tina Turner
Tori Amos
Toyah
Ultravox
Wet Wet Wet
k.d. lang
Alphaville
George Michael
a-ha
Billy Idol
Cher
Kylie Minogue
Tears For Fears
Cyndi Lauper
Annie Lennox
Duran Duran
Kate Bush
Men At Work
Eurythmics
Wham!
INXS
Simply Red
The Cardigans
Dave Stewart
Bonnie Tyler
Blondie
Olivia Newton-John
Heart
Pet Shop Boys
Tina Turner
Simple Minds
Starship
Christopher Cross
Kenny Loggins
Natalie Imbruglia
Richard Marx
Soft Cell
Sheryl Crow
Bronski Beat
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Don Henley
Sarah McLachlan
Eric Carmen
Huey Lewis & The News
Nena
Culture Club
Rick Springfield
4 Non Blondes
Gloria Estefan
Seal
Sinéad O'Connor
Laura Branigan
Pat Benatar
Irene Cara
The Pointer Sisters
Donna Summer
KC & The Sunshine Band
Belinda Carlisle
Kim Carnes
Billy Ocean
Cutting Crew
Katrina & The Waves
Cliff Richard
The Human League
Pretenders
Rick Astley
Berlin
Dexys Midnight Runners
Spandau Ballet
Milli Vanilli
Roxy Music
Fine Young Cannibals
Talk Talk
The B-52's
Chris de Burgh
Bryan Ferry
Yazoo
Everything But The Girl
Texas
James
Cheap Trick
Bette Midler
Robert Palmer
Neneh Cherry
The Waterboys
Frankie Goes To Hollywood
The Romantics
Paul Young
Matthew Wilder
The Buggles
Tiffany
Kim Wilde
A Flock Of Seagulls
The Stranglers
Taylor Dayne
Lighthouse Family
Mike + The Mechanics
All Saints
Mr. Mister
The Beautiful South
Tori Amos
The Psychedelic Furs
GABRIELLE
Suzanne Vega
Wet Wet Wet
Glenn Frey