New Wave
A broad late-1970s-to-1980s pop-rock label that grew out of post-punk and became one of the era’s most durable crossover sounds.
Origins and context
The label emerged in late-1970s post-punk and new-pop circles in the United States and the United Kingdom, where critics and record companies used it for music that sounded less abrasive than punk but still leaned into its energy and outsider cool.
History
In the late 1970s, “new wave” began as a broad label for music that followed punk without simply repeating it, and the term was often used loosely enough to cover a wide range of acts. AllMusic describes it as a catch-all for music that directly followed punk rock, while Apple Music’s artist notes for Blondie and Talking Heads place those bands at the center of the style’s rise and crossover into the mainstream. By the early 1980s, the style had become one of pop’s most visible faces, helped by glossy production, strong visuals, and heavy rotation on MTV. Blondie’s official and streaming profiles, along with track pages for “Heart of Glass” and Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime,” show how new wave moved from clubs and downtown scenes into enduring radio and album-catalogue status.
Notable artists
- BBlondie
- THTalking Heads
- DDevo
- TCThe Cars
- TPThe Police
Essential listening
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Explore connected genres
Sources and further reading
- New Wave Music Genre Overview
- Spotify
Blondie is presented in Spotify and Apple Music materials as a quintessential new wave band, with 'Heart of Glass' singled out as a breakthrough.
- Talking Heads artist page on Apple Music
- Blondie official site