For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89

For a history of music in all times, go to Timeline of musical events.

1980s in music is music created and performed in the 1980s. This decade saw the emergence of teen pop, new wave and glam metal and it is perhaps best defined by the introduction of the synthesizer. The music of the 1980s continued the trends of the 1970s pop culture, just as the 2000s continued those of the 1990s.

The U.S. and North America

Rock

Alternative rock begins to enter the mainstream, with New Wave music and bands like U2 and R.E.M. popular long before the Grunge movement of the early 1990s.

In the years 1980 and 1981, the original New Romantic scene, with a David Bowie-influenced camp look and a punk rock sound influenced and interacted with the late 1970s punk scene at CBGB's, creating the New Wave scene that would define the 1980s. Outside of New Wave, rock continued the arena rock trend of the 1970s - bands like Styx, Rush, Journey, REO Speedwagon, ZZ Top, and Aerosmith were popular into the early 1980s, with hair metal taking their place later.

Beginning in 1983 and peaking in success at the end of the decade, the resurgence of hard rock music and the emergence of pop metal with bands such as Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, Quiet Riot, Ratt, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake, Journey, and Cinderella.

The emergence of wildly popular hard rock band Guns N' Roses and the successful comeback of Aerosmith in the late 1980s. The success of hard rock act Van Halen throughout the entire decade, with both singers David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar. Heavy metal artists like Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne were also very popular during the Eighties.

Various older rock bands make a comeback. The Beach Boys have a hit with Kokomo. The Kinks have hits with Come Dancing and Do It Again. The Steve Miller Band have a hit with Abracadabra. Steely Dan have a hit with Hey Nineteen. Stevie Ray Vaughan and George Thorogood spark a revival of blues. Led Zeppelin disbanded after John Bonham's 1980 death. Country rock sees a decline after Lynyrd Skynyrd's tragic 1977 plane crash.

Pop

The decade of 1980's saw the reinvention of Michael Jackson and the emergence of Madonna,which arguably were the most powerful musicians during the time.Their videos became a permanent fixture on MTVand gained a worldwide mass audience. By 1980, the disco production of the 1970s, largely dependent on orchestras, is replaced by a lighter synthpop production. Duran Duran gains fame with their hit Girls on Film, which had a Godley & Creme-directed video, which was banned by MTV for it's sexual nature. They continued throughout the 80s with a string of hits, including Planet Earth, Hungry Like the Wolf, The Reflex, and Rio. In the second half of the 1980s teen pop has its first wave. Bands and artists include New Kids on the Block, Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, Tommy Page, New Edition, Stacey Q, The Bangles, Madonna and others. Urban pop acts of the 1980s include Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Deniece Williams. Artists such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Michael, The Pet Shop Boys and Janet Jackson ruled the charts throughout the decade and achieved tremendous success worldwide. Their fame and commercial success lasts up to date. Michael Jackson releases Thriller in 1982, which becomes the best selling album of all time.

Hip hop

Hip hop,a genre of music and culture that began in 1970s Bronx in New York City, became mainstream and a strong influence on pop music in the late 1980s and continues to be in the present day. Popular hip hop artists of the 1980s include Grandmaster Flash, Salt-N-Pepa, Beastie Boys, NWA, Public Enemy, and Run DMC.

Europe

Latin America

The 1980s gives to the rise of teenage groups such as Menudo, Timbiriche, and Los Chicos, as well as child stars such as Luis Miguel. The Rock en Español movement began around the 1980s. Groups such as Los Prisioneros, Soda Stereo, Caifanes, Hombres G, and many others became famous in Latin America. By 1988, however, the aforementioned Luis Miguel would transform into an adult superstar at age 18 with the hit La Incondicional. Not too far behind was former Los Chicos' member Chayanne as he became a leading pop star by the end of the decade. As young stars begin to rise in Latin music, veterans such as Julio Iglesias, Jose Jose, Juan Gabriel, and Jose Luis Rodriguez El Puma continue their dominance in Latin music. After the slow decline of Fania All-Stars, the new romantic genre of salsa romantica would rise beginning in 1984. Younger salseros such as Frankie Ruiz, Luis Enrique, and Pedro Conga would take advantage of this new genre. Merengue music would also hit its golden years during the 1980s with acts such as Wilfrido Vargas, Johnny Ventura, and Fernando Villalona. Their orchestras would also churn future solo acts such as Eddy Herrera and Rubby Perez. By the end of the decade, La Cocoband would reinvent merengue with a more comedic style. Tejano Music starts to give little rise after Mazz crosses over to Mexico after their album Una Noche Juntos and No Te Olvidare wins a Grammy

See also

• 1970s in music
• 1990s in music