new wave artists

At a glance

226 published new wave artists; 1,574 studio albums have verified cover art.

When they started

Debut decade from each artist's earliest dated release. Most debuts fell in the 1980s (81 artists).

Where they come from

Countries with the most new wave artists. United Kingdom leads with 104.

• United Kingdom 104
• United States 48
• Canada 11
• France 7
• Germany 6
• Japan 5
• Australia 4
• Brazil 4

Often paired with

Genres that share artists with new wave. The most shared is rock music, with 53 artists in both.

• rock music 53
• pop music 49
• alternative rock 37
• pop rock 34
• synth-pop 31
• Q3071 29
• post-punk 26
• indie rock 16

Covers from new wave

1,574 studio albums have verified cover art. The 12 shown come from the most famous artists.

Leaders

Depeche Mode has the most release groups (400); David Bowie the longest career (61 years); Peter Gabriel the most awards (78).

More new wave artists

Showing 1–108 of 108 artists

The Clash

United Kingdom · Group · 1976–1986

post-punk, Q3071, new wave, reggae, ska

14.7M listeners · 76 wikis · Tier 2

Charli XCX

United Kingdom · Person · born 1992

pop music, dance-pop, synth-pop, electropop, new wave, new jack swing, indie pop, pop-punk, avant-pop, hyperpop

29.5M listeners · 69 wikis · Tier 1

Annie Lennox

United Kingdom · Person · born 1954

rock music, pop music, new wave

19.2M listeners · 69 wikis · Tier 1

Cyndi Lauper

United States · Person · born 1953

rock music, country music, blues, pop rock, dance-pop, adult contemporary music, dance-rock, new wave

18.6M listeners · 74 wikis · Tier 1

Blondie

United States · Group · 1974–present

rock music, post-punk, dance-rock, new wave, power pop

18M listeners · 62 wikis · Tier 1

Modern Talking

West Germany · Group · 1983–2003

pop rock, dance-pop, dance-rock, synth-pop, new wave, Europop, Eurodisco, Eurodance

13M listeners · 78 wikis · Tier 2

Billy Idol

United Kingdom · Person · born 1955

hard rock, dance-rock, Q3071, new wave

22.5M listeners · 54 wikis · Tier 1

The Smiths

United Kingdom · Group · 1984–1987

post-punk, new wave, jangle pop, indie rock

24.7M listeners · 60 wikis · Tier 2

Talking Heads

United States · Group · 1975–1991

post-punk, new wave

11.5M listeners · 56 wikis · Tier 2

a-ha

Norway · Group · 1982–present

pop rock, soft rock, alternative rock, synth-pop, new wave, electronic rock

24.9M listeners · 53 wikis · Tier 1

Tears for Fears

United Kingdom · Group · 1981–present

new wave

28.7M listeners · 48 wikis · Tier 1

Eurythmics

United Kingdom · Group · 1980–1999

new wave, blue-eyed soul

16.5M listeners · 49 wikis · Tier 2

The Strokes

United States · Group · 1998–present

rock music, new wave, indie rock, post-punk revival, garage rock

17.4M listeners · 56 wikis · Tier 1

No Doubt

United States · Group · 1986–present

rock music, pop music, pop rock, alternative rock, Q3071, new wave, pop-punk, ska, reggae rock, post-grunge, reggae fusion, ska punk

16.3M listeners · 53 wikis · Tier 1

Pet Shop Boys

United Kingdom · Group · 1981–present

electronic dance music, art pop, synth-pop, new wave, house music, alternative dance, sophisti-pop

11.4M listeners · 59 wikis · Tier 3

Empire of the Sun

Australia · Group · 2007–present

electronic music, glam rock, electronic dance music, alternative rock, synth-pop, new wave, electronic rock

38.3M listeners · 29 wikis · Tier 1

INXS

Australia · Group · 1977–2012

alternative rock, dance-rock, new wave, funk rock, pub rock

9.5M listeners · 49 wikis · Tier 2

New Order

United Kingdom · Group · 1980–present

electronic dance music, post-punk, synth-pop, new wave, alternative dance

8.6M listeners · 50 wikis · Tier 2

The 1975

United Kingdom · Group · 2002–present

alternative rock, new wave, indie rock, indie pop, power pop

22.3M listeners · 37 wikis · Tier 1

Wham!

United Kingdom · Group · 1981–1986

pop music, new wave, blue-eyed soul

13.8M listeners · 47 wikis · Tier 2

Belinda Carlisle

United States · Person · born 1958

rock music, new wave

8.9M listeners · 47 wikis · Tier 2

Robert Smith

United Kingdom · Person · born 1959

alternative rock, post-punk, new wave, gothic rock

7M listeners · 51 wikis · Tier 2

Marina Diamandis

United Kingdom · Person · born 1985

dance-pop, synth-pop, new wave, indie pop

13M listeners · 45 wikis · Tier 1

Dave Stewart

United Kingdom · Person · born 1952

rhythm and blues, pop rock, folk music, synth-pop, new wave

16.8M listeners · 30 wikis · Tier 1

Men at Work

Australia · Group · 1978–present

rock music, pop rock, new wave, reggae

15.5M listeners · 36 wikis · Tier 1

Simple Minds

Scotland · Group · 1977–present

art rock, post-punk, synth-pop, new wave, arena rock

9.9M listeners · 41 wikis · Tier 3

Spandau Ballet

United Kingdom · Group · 1979–2019

new wave, blue-eyed soul

10.2M listeners · 39 wikis · Tier 2

Nena

Germany · Person · born 1960

pop music, pop rock, Q3071, synth-pop, new wave, Neue Deutsche Welle

6.1M listeners · 49 wikis · Tier 3

Walk the Moon

United States · Group · 2006–present

pop rock, dance-rock, new wave, indie rock

14.6M listeners · 24 wikis · Tier 1

The Outfield

United Kingdom · Group · 1983–2014

pop rock, new wave, power pop

19.7M listeners · 15 wikis · Tier 3

Bronski Beat

United Kingdom · Group · 1983–1995

dance-rock, synth-pop, new wave, Hi-NRG

10.9M listeners · 27 wikis · Tier 3

The Stranglers

United Kingdom · Group · 1974–present

Q3071, new wave

10.5M listeners · 27 wikis · Tier 3

Starship

United States · Group · 1985–present

rock music, new wave

14.2M listeners · 20 wikis · Tier 1

Dexys Midnight Runners

United Kingdom · Group · 1978–present

pop music, new wave

7.6M listeners · 24 wikis · Tier 3

Alla Pugacheva

Soviet Union · Person · born 1949

pop music, disco, funk, blues, pop rock, soft rock, progressive rock, chanson, new wave, funk rock, traditional pop, estrada, Russian pop

109 wikis · Tier 2

Yoko Ono

Japan · Person · born 1933

rock music, pop music, dance music, electronic music, alternative rock, new wave, electronica, experimental music, Shibuya-kei, avant-garde, Fluxus, conceptual art, vanguard

98 wikis · Tier 2

Person

Ekkstacy

Canada · Person · born 2002

trap music, post-punk, pop rap, new wave, indie rock, punk rap, hyperpop

6.4M listeners · 1 wikis · Tier 3

Hilary Duff

United States · Person · born 1987

pop music, pop rock, dance music, new wave

91 wikis · Tier 2

Viktor Tsoi

Soviet Union · Person · born 1962

rock music, post-punk, Q3071, new wave, indie rock

85 wikis · Tier 2

Peter Gabriel

United Kingdom · Person · born 1950

rock music, experimental rock, pop rock, progressive rock, art rock, art pop, new wave, worldbeat

73 wikis · Tier 2

Billie Joe Armstrong

United States · Person · born 1972

rock music, alternative rock, Q3071, new wave, pop-punk, power pop

72 wikis · Tier 2

Nikolai Noskov

Russia · Person · born 1956

pop music, hard rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, traditional folk music, funk, rhythm and blues, glam rock, progressive rock, art rock, alternative rock, dance-rock, electro, synth-pop, new wave, funk rock, blue-eyed soul, glam metal, folk-pop, trip hop, symphonic rock, romance, bard song

78 wikis · Tier 2

John Lydon

United Kingdom · Person · born 1956

experimental rock, alternative rock, post-punk, Q3071, new wave, noise rock, alternative dance, dance-punk, post-rock

60 wikis · Tier 2

Debbie Harry

United States · Person · born 1945

rock music, pop music, disco, Q3071, new wave, rapping, power pop, post-bop

59 wikis · Tier 3

Elvis Costello

United Kingdom · Person · born 1954

rock music, Q3071, new wave

55 wikis · Tier 3

Robin Gibb

United Kingdom · Person · born 1949

pop music, new wave

51 wikis · Tier 2

Bryan Ferry

United Kingdom · Person · born 1945

rock music, pop music, new wave

51 wikis · Tier 3

Danny Elfman

United States · Person · born 1953

new wave, ska

60 wikis · Tier 2

David Byrne

United States · Person · born 1952

alternative rock, new wave

47 wikis · Tier 3

Kim Wilde

United Kingdom · Person · born 1960

rock music, pop music, pop rock, synth-pop, new wave, Hi-NRG

53 wikis · Tier 3

Dave Gahan

United Kingdom · Person · born 1962

pop music, new wave

43 wikis · Tier 3

Grace Jones

Jamaica · Person · born 1948

pop music, contemporary R&B, soul, disco, rhythm and blues, new wave

52 wikis · Tier 3

Roxy Music

United Kingdom · Group · 1971–2011

glam rock, art rock, new wave, proto-punk, New Romantic

42 wikis · Tier 2

Andrew Fletcher

United Kingdom · Person · born 1961

alternative rock, new wave

42 wikis · Tier 2

Martin Gore

United Kingdom · Person · born 1961

pop music, new wave

39 wikis · Tier 3

Chrissie Hynde

United States · Person · born 1951

rock music, Q3071, new wave

38 wikis · Tier 3

Amanda Lear

France · Person · born 1939

rock music, pop music, disco, dance music, dance-pop, jazz, new wave, Eurodisco, Italo disco, Eurodance

47 wikis · Tier 3

Simon Le Bon

United Kingdom · Person · born 1958

pop music, new wave

34 wikis · Tier 3

Simon Le Bon

United Kingdom · Person · born 1960

new wave

34 wikis · Tier 3

Alan Wilder

United Kingdom · Person · born 1959

new wave, electronica

32 wikis · Tier 3

Franco Battiato

Italy · Person · born 1945

pop rock, progressive rock, electro, new wave, opera, experimental music

41 wikis · Tier 2

Andy Summers

United Kingdom · Person · born 1942

rock music, jazz, progressive rock, new wave

31 wikis · Tier 3

Peter Hook

United Kingdom · Person · born 1956

alternative rock, post-punk, Q3071, synth-pop, electropop, new wave, techno, indie rock

29 wikis · Tier 3

Glen Matlock

United Kingdom · Person · born 1956

Q3071, new wave

27 wikis · Tier 3

Devo

United States · Group · 1972–present

art rock, new wave

27 wikis · Tier 3

Michael Hutchence

Australia · Person · born 1960

rock music, new wave

36 wikis · Tier 2

Tina Weymouth

United States · Person · born 1950

new wave

26 wikis · Tier 3

Cheap Trick

United States · Group · 1974–present

hard rock, rock and roll, alternative rock, Q3071, new wave, pop-punk, power pop

26 wikis · Tier 3

John Taylor

United Kingdom · Person · born 1960

new wave

26 wikis · Tier 3

Madness

United Kingdom · Group · 1979–present

pop music, synth-pop, new wave, reggae, ska, 2 tone

34 wikis · Tier 3

Morten Harket

Norway · Person · born 1959

pop music, pop rock, alternative rock, synth-pop, new wave

34 wikis · Tier 3

Clem Burke

United States · Person · born 1954

rock music, hard rock, pop rock, post-punk, Q3071, new wave

25 wikis · Tier 2

Bernard Sumner

United Kingdom · Person · born 1956

rock music, pop music, alternative rock, new wave, indie rock

25 wikis · Tier 3

Benjamin Orr

United States · Person · born 1947

new wave

24 wikis · Tier 2

Kate Pierson

United States · Person · born 1948

rock music, new wave

23 wikis · Tier 3

Perry Bamonte

United Kingdom · Person · born 1960

Q3071, new wave, gothic rock

23 wikis · Tier 2

Nick Rhodes

United Kingdom · Person · born 1962

new wave

23 wikis · Tier 3

The Pointer Sisters

United States · Group · 1969–present

rock music, pop music, soul, country music, gospel music, rhythm and blues, jazz, soft rock, new wave, post-disco

32 wikis · Tier 2

The Specials

United Kingdom · Group · 1977–present

new wave, ska

32 wikis · Tier 3

Paul Weller

United Kingdom · Person · born 1958

pop music, new wave

32 wikis · Tier 3

Trevor Horn

United Kingdom · Person · born 1949

rock music, progressive rock, new wave

31 wikis · Tier 3

Chris Stein

United States · Person · born 1950

rock music, new wave

21 wikis · Tier 3

Roger Taylor

United Kingdom · Person · born 1960

new wave

21 wikis · Tier 3

Steve Stevens

United States · Person · born 1959

hard rock, new wave

21 wikis · Tier 3

Fred Schneider

United States · Person · born 1951

new wave

20 wikis · Tier 3

Simon Gallup

United Kingdom · Person · born 1960

alternative rock, post-punk, new wave, gothic rock

20 wikis · Tier 3

Killing Joke

United Kingdom · Group · 1979–present

post-punk, new wave, industrial metal, gothic rock, industrial rock

29 wikis · Tier 3

Ministry

United States · Group · 1981–present

synth-pop, new wave, thrash metal, industrial metal

29 wikis · Tier 3

Ian Dury

United Kingdom · Person · born 1942

new wave, pub rock

29 wikis · Tier 3

Aimee Mann

United States · Person · born 1960

rock music, alternative rock, new wave

29 wikis · Tier 3

Chris Frantz

United States · Person · born 1951

new wave

19 wikis · Tier 3

Lol Tolhurst

United Kingdom · Person · born 1959

new wave

19 wikis · Tier 3

Andy Taylor

United Kingdom · Person · born 1961

new wave

19 wikis · Tier 3

Gillian Gilbert

United Kingdom · Person · born 1961

rock music, alternative rock, post-punk, synth-pop, new wave, indie rock, alternative dance

19 wikis · Tier 3

Stephen Morris

United Kingdom · Person · born 1957

rock music, alternative rock, post-punk, new wave, indie rock

19 wikis · Tier 3

Aquarium

Russia · Group · 1972–present

rock music, rock and roll, blues rock, folk rock, psychedelic rock, experimental rock, art rock, new wave, reggae, jazz fusion, indie rock, neofolk, bard rock

28 wikis · Tier 3

Sparks

United States · Group · 1971–present

psychedelic rock, disco, pop rock, glam rock, art rock, alternative rock, synth-pop, electropop, new wave, electronica, proto-punk, synth-punk

28 wikis · Tier 3

Marc Almond

United Kingdom · Person · born 1957

rock music, pop music, new wave, dark cabaret

28 wikis · Tier 3

Flight of the Conchords

New Zealand · Group · 1998–present

rock music, folk rock, funk, folk music, hip-hop, alternative rock, new wave, alternative hip-hop, indie rock, acoustic music, comedy rock, comedy film

27 wikis · Tier 3

Derek Sherinian

United States · Person · born 1966

new wave, progressive metal

27 wikis · Tier 3

Jerry Harrison

United States · Person · born 1949

art rock, post-punk, new wave, garage rock, proto-punk

18 wikis · Tier 3

Alain Bashung

France · Person · born 1947

rock music, pop rock, new wave

26 wikis · Tier 3

Bob Rock

Canada · Person · born 1954

rock music, pop music, hard rock, heavy metal music, Q3071, new wave

26 wikis · Tier 3

Klaus Nomi

Germany · Person · born 1944

rock music, electronic music, dance-pop, synth-pop, new wave, opera, avant-garde

26 wikis · Tier 3

Porl Thompson

United Kingdom · Person · born 1957

new wave

16 wikis · Tier 3

Daniel Lanois

Canada · Person · born 1951

rock music, blues rock, folk rock, experimental rock, blues, pop rock, folk music, art rock, alternative rock, new wave, ambient music, acoustic music

25 wikis · Tier 3

Kirsty MacColl

United Kingdom · Person · born 1959

pop music, new wave

25 wikis · Tier 3

Indochine

France · Group · 1981–present

rock music, new wave

25 wikis · Tier 3