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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Windswept
Ep - 5 Tracks - Released September 13, 2024

RecentMusic users are tracking 188 New Wave Pop artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 5,000 releases .

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