Top 10 Countries with the Best Music

The Top Ten
1 United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly shortened to United Kingdom, UK or Britain is a Sovereign State located of the Northwestern coast of Europe. It is a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy currently lead by Monarch Queen Elizabeth II and its current prime minister is... read more

My favorite music artists are Coldplay (yes, I actually like this band a lot), Oasis, The Who, Blur, The Smiths, and The Police, who are all bands from the UK. My love for British music is strong, you see. Sadly, nobody I know shares that same kind of love for British music quite like I do. It's tough to deal with. This is all I have to say. Goodbye.

The United Kingdom has conquered all the continents of the world, and all the genres of art. The best music is British, no matter the genre. Anything from ELO to Queen, Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, Enter Shikari, Amy Winehouse, The Prodigy, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Arctic Monkeys, Blur/Gorillaz, Oasis, The Clash, Muse, Robbie Williams, Bullet for My Valentine, Fatboy Slim, Judas Priest, The Streets, Dizzee Rascal, Massive Attack, Tricky, Portishead, to name a few.

This is a proud nation of artists.

2 United States The United States of America, or the U.S.A. for short, is a federal republic composed of 50 states, 48 of them are contiguous states. There are two other states, Alaska and Hawaii, which are north and south of the contiguous states, respectively. The United States declared its independence from the... read more

The USA has the best music out of all the countries. Now, I'm not saying that other countries don't make fantastic music, but how can you compete with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, or the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley? Not to mention Frank Sinatra and the best trumpet player of all time, Louis Armstrong. And rock and roll was born in this country, just like jazz, the blues, pop, and many other kinds of music. Aerosmith and Metallica also come from the USA. Plus, other artists like the Black Eyed Peas, Madonna, Garth Brooks, Whitney Houston, etc. Many other bands and singers may have been born in other countries, but when they came to the United States, they made their best music. For example: U2, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, etc. This is the best country for music, without a doubt.

3 Canada Canada is a country in North America that is next to the United States, and it's the 2nd largest country in the world by area (size is 9.985 million km²). This country has 10 provinces, and 3 territories. Canada became a dominion on July 1, 1867. Its 10 provinces are: Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec,... read more

Canada has too many good bands to name despite a population that is dwarfed by its bigger friends. Trooper, Rush, Three Days Grace, Three Doors Down, April Wine, Sum 41, not to mention Justin Bieber is a talented artist or he wouldn't be where he was (any non-biased musician will tell you that) as well as Drake (who owns the rap game right now) as well as The Weeknd. Alexisonfire, Dead and Divine, Protest the Hero. The list goes on for a while. That's why I think this country makes the best music.

Canada should be above Sweden on this list. Sweden doesn't have as many internationally acclaimed music giants as Canada does (with the exception of the immortal ABBA, of course). Think about this. Bryan Adams. Arcade Fire. Rush. The Band. Barenaked Ladies. Oscar Peterson. Tragically Hip. Blue Rodeo. Nickelback. It's understandable that the UK and the US are #1 and #2 respectively, but Canada should be third, with Sweden in fourth.

4 Sweden Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe.

It borders Norway to the west and Finland to the east, and is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund. At 450,295 square kilometers (173,860 sq mi), Sweden is the third-largest... read more

Worst Eurovision country, but by far the best music (along with Finland, Finland might just be my favorite because of the wider variety of rock subgenres and Eurovision bangers). Katatonia, Opeth, In Flames, Dark Tranquility, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Meshuggah, Sabaton, Ghost, At the Gates, Bloodbath, Hammerfall, Candlemass, Dissection, Entombed etc. Enough said.

If you're into metal, the Nordic countries, and Sweden no less, are really ground zero. Whether we're talking about black metal (Marduk, Arckanum, Armagedda, Dark Funeral, and the pioneers of the genre Bathory), doom/gothic doom metal (Candlemass, Count Raven, Draconian), or the Swedish specialty, death metal (Amon Amarth, Dismember, Entombed, Bloodbath, Arch Enemy, At the Gates), Sweden is, at least per capita, unmatched. But it doesn't end at metal music, oh no.

Sweden has successful bands and artists in every genre, from the above-mentioned metal to the oh-so-famous Swedish pop. As if this was not enough, a very significant portion of America's biggest pop hits were written by Swedes (as well as Azerbaijan's winning Eurovision song from 2011). This, combined with a population of 10 million, makes for, in my opinion, the greatest music industry in the world. It's not about sheer numbers. It's about quality, and no other country has artists that are as consistently excellent in so many genres as Sweden.

5 Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean. It lies off the eastern coast of the Asia Mainland (east of China, Korea, Russia) and stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and near Taiwan in the southwest... read more

Japan has awesome music! I love Japanese anime theme songs. They are so catchy! Japan is ranked pretty fairly at 5. I'm just happy it's in the top 5.

Not a statement of quality because I don't really know Japanese music well but it's interesting how Japan is so much harder to break into than most of the rest of the world in terms of music. They almost exclusively listen to their own music.

LiSA, Eir Aoi, and Luna Haruna are the best! They sing a lot of good songs for Sword Art Online! Not to mention FLOW is known for a lot of good songs for Naruto and Code Geass! And finally, Linked Horizon sings one of the best opening songs ever for the anime Attack on Titan!

6 Germany Germany was formally united in 1871 under the initiative of Bismarck with King Wilhelm of Prussia as emperor. The previous 'Holy Roman Empire', basically a continuation of the empire of Charlemagne/Karl der Grosse was dissolved in 1806... read more

Classical: Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Bach, Schubert. I doubt there is any other country coming even close to this.

Electronic: Kraftwerk. Electronic music originated in Germany and Britain, but there are few bands whose contribution is comparable.

Metal: Rammstein, Scorpions. Both are among the best metal bands. The only problem is Rammstein sings mostly in German.

All (or at least most) of the credit for classical music and the best musicians goes to Germany. How can we ignore this? Even modern bands like Modern Talking and Rammstein, Running Wild and many more are all German. Germany is among the top 3.

7 Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of 7,617,930 square kilometres (2,941,300 sq mi), Australia is the largest country by area in Oceania and... read more

Well, there are mediocre singers like Gotye and Guy Sebastian. Keith Urban is incredible, however, he was actually born in New Zealand, even though he is usually considered Australian.

Australia could be much higher up this list. But it loses many points for giving the world Rolf Harris.

Australia is a great country for music that can't be overlooked. This is all thanks to folk singer Judith Durham and her band, The Seekers, who made the emergence of many big singers and bands possible. R.I.P. (1943-2022).

8 England England, previously the Kingdom of England, is a constituent country of the United Kingdom along with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

England can trace its history as far back as the 10th century, but modern England didn't start till the Norman Invasion of 1066. In 1535, England annexed... read more

Most of the supergroup/influential "British" bands are actually English. Therefore, I would say not "British" but English: Led Zeppelin, Yes, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, The Who, Free, The Kinks, King Crimson, Camel, Hawkwind, Motorhead… and so on…

Do I really need to explain why? Everything about it is amazing!

One of the super heavyweights of the music world indeed.

9 Ireland Formed in 1916 after the Easter uprising, Ireland is a small country with a population of roughly 5 million.

Jigs, reels, and slip jigs (which are in a 9 count) are very odd for Western music. Irish traditional music still has a pulse in the modern era.

It brings the Irish together in the country of Ireland, even in the hard times. The music is the best in bars and hotels.

They have epic rock bands and stuff, but I just love their traditional music so bloody much! Greetings from a Scot.

10 India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country (with over 1.2 billion people), and the most populous democracy in the world. Its capital is New Delhi. Some other major cities are Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahemdabad... read more

Classical Hindustani and Carnatic music from India can't even be compared with European music. Western music is very easy to understand and enjoy, making it perfect for easy listening. However, when you look closer, Indian music has some depth.

They have music for each mood. There are different flavors for sadness, happiness, love, lust, hate, fun, etc. There's no need for language or words for you to understand the mood. You will get it. India has many different languages, but their music is widely enjoyed throughout the country and the world.

Sometimes, I feel like they use too many ups and downs, fluctuations, and vibrations, which I don't particularly like. For me, I love UK music when I drive, jog, and workout. But I listen to Indian music when I have time to really listen to it or research on it.

The Contenders
11 South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eastern border is defined by the Sea of Japan. South Korea claims... read more

Their music is actually really good, and they invest heavily in making it catchy and easy to listen to. It might seem that a lot of typical K-Pop songs are superficial, but when you delve deeper into that music world, it's actually more complex. Listen to Big Bang and BTS. They have experimented with their music in some of their albums. SHINee does the same. There's so much more to it, and we shouldn't ignore that Korean music outside of K-Pop is also good, especially N.Flying and Day6. Epik High is good too. Red Velvet is a very dreamy and diverse girl group, and I love their music.

Even their rap is far better than the mumble raps in Western music, focusing on talent rather than drugs or substances. They work so hard at making it. While creative freedom might not be as prevalent as in the USA, I see more creative freedoms emerging, especially since BTS became popular. I hope this trend continues, allowing idols to write their own music. Overall, it's good, and they deserve a higher place than 12th.

12 Italy Italy (Italian: Repubblica Italiana) is a sovereign state and unitary parliamentary republic in south-central Europe.

Italy covers an area of 301,338 km². With almost 62 million inhabitants, it is the third most populous EU member state. Located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares... read more

Italy is in the top 10. It is one of the most important countries for classical music and the birthplace of Opera. It has very influential folk music and innovations in electronic music as well.

My two favorite Italian composers have got to be Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota. And my two favorite Italian bands are Lacuna Coil and Rhapsody of Fire.

Maybe not as well-known as English or American ones, but Italians made music. From singers to bands to composers to opera (created by Italians).

13 France France, officially the French Republic, is a sovereign state comprising territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The European part of France, called metropolitan France, extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to... read more

France has proven during centuries its place in music and even today excels in underground, pop rock, jazz, Hip-Hop, RAP, RnB, alternative, classic. French music benefits from all countries' roots.

France should be somewhere after Canada and Sweden. There are so many French EDM musicians, and it's one of the largest languages in the world, much larger and more popular than German or Japanese.

The best rhythm, positive energy, and even though you don't understand the lyrics, you fall in love! I just love it so much (and no, I'm not French).

14 Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation (RF), is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world by area, covering over 17,125,191 square kilometres (6,612,073 sq mi), and encompassing one-eighth of Earth's inhabitable landmass. Russia extends across... read more

The Russian music scene, though often overlooked by the West, is home to many of the greatest artists on earth. Take it from someone who has no relation to Russia whatsoever, I am simply an enthusiast. To name a few, Sergey Bezrukov and the Russian band Lyube have perfectly cultivated the feeling of beautiful, nostalgic sadness, along with the historical, happy feeling that comes purely from Russian music. Vintazh and the all-girl group Blestyaschie provide some of the best pop music in the world to younger listeners.

15 Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers (3,300,000 sq mi) and with over 214 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth most populous. Its capital is Brasília,... read more

I'm from Brazil, and in the car, I listen to the music. One of my favorite songs is Calma Vai. I love it. I think the music should be top one.

I've listened to everything. Literally everything. From rock to metal to hip hop to rap to dance to EDM to pop to folk. Name a band or artist and I will most likely know their music. And from my experience with music, NOTHING stands up to Brazilian music. Listen to someone like Jorge Ben and you will see where I'm coming from.

Brazil has an awesome music scene. The blend of different cultures is amazing. I love percussion-based music in any genre. Brazilian music is just really upbeat, alive, and rhythmic.

16 Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a sovereign and unitary monarchy in Northern Europe whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula plus the island Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard... read more

Norway has significantly better music than Sweden. However, Sweden is somehow ranked higher than Norway. Sweden is a perfect example of an overrated country. People tend to overrate just about everything in Sweden, while they continue to underrate Norway.

Norway has the best black metal and has great folk music. Norway has the best music if you like atmospheric stuff, especially atmospheric metal. Bands like Burzum and Ulver will blow you away.

I came to this list for folk music and traditional music that you'd hear in the canals of Venice or the streets of Paris, not black metal or classic rock. Norway has awesome folk music.

17 Jamaica Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning 10,990 square kilometres (4,240 sq mi) in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 191 kilometres (119... read more

Though only having about 3 million citizens, the entire world knows Jamaican music. They have created their own musical language in Reggae, Roots, Dub, Dancehall etc. Artists like Bob Marley and The Skatalites are known all across the world.

Knowing that Bob Marley comes from Jamaica, and then learning about these amazing other bands and singers that come from this tiny place, being 14th is really good for a tiny country in the Caribbean.

Jamaica has produced numerous genres of music that form the backbone of many popular styles today. Jamaican music is rich in culture and flair. It can evoke a range of emotions. You can cry, you can simmer down, or you can have a dance with some friends.

18 Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in southwestern Europe with parts of territory in the Atlantic Ocean and across the Mediterranean Sea. The largest part of Spain is situated on the Iberian Peninsula; its territory also includes the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, the Balearic Islands... read more

Listen to flamenco music. Just listen to that raw, unadulterated passion expressed through song, guitar, and dance. Music with such passion deserves to be recognized.

Spanish music is not only flamenco. We have a ton of good pop artists. Also, the new wave of trap musicians is fire.

Traditional Flamenco music, Spanish Guitar, Enrique Iglesias…this country deserves to be higher.

19 New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
It is situated 1,500 kilometres (900 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington,... read more

New Zealand has many talented stars that have made it to the top of the charts. Think Lorde, Kimbra, etc.

The birthplace of Keith Urban!

20 Pakistan Pakistan was established in 1947 and is located in South Asia. Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan. Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar are other major cities of Pakistan. Urdu and English are official languages of Pakistan. World's second highest peak (K-2) and ninth highest peak (Nanga Parbat) are... read more

I wouldn't compare Pakistani bands to American or English classics, but they have an eccentric feel that is distinctive from any other band. The Pakistani music industry, as versatile as it is, defines true music, be it classical folk music or rock/metal. Platforms like Nescafe Basement and Coke Studio represent the pinnacle of music in their own right.

With the existence of bands like Junoon, Strings, Vital Signs, Entity Paradigm, Noori, Jal, Call, Fuzon, and many more, our music portrays our culture and is unprecedented. For me, Pakistan has some of the best music bands/artists and music in general. Period. We take pride in our country's music.

21 Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a federal republic located in North America. The country is located between the U.S. and Central America, and is known for its Pacific and Gulf of Mexico beaches and its diverse landscape of mountains, deserts, and jungles.

Mexico has music that you can dance to. Their traditional music is poetic and capable of reaching others. They can adapt foreign genres into their own and are capable of creating new genres by mixing others.

A country that knows how to compose music with different instruments and makes music sound gangster, and better than rap.

Good variety of music. From traditional mariachi or sones to rock or pop.

22 Finland Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland across Estonia to the south. Finland covers an area of 338,455... read more

Has everyone forgotten about the Eurovision winners, Lordi, and what's worse, they have the representation of The Rasmus too. I think they have to be in higher places on this list.

My favorite Finnish bands are Nightwish, Ensiferum, Apocalyptica, Lordi, Finntroll, and Wintersun.

Still wondering why Finland's 20, they make great metal/rock. Korpiklaani is the best.

23 Romania Romania is a sovereign state located in Southeastern Europe It borders the Black Sea, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, and Moldova. It has an area of 238,391 square kilometres and a temperate-continental climate. With over 19 million inhabitants, the country is the seventh-most-populous member state... read more

Do you know any of their musicians or singers? A great domain with a lot of great and talented persons.

INNA, Edward Maya, O-Zone, Alexandra Stan, and Voltaj are some of the most popular musicians/bands from Romania. They are known all over the world.

This country should definitely be in the top 5. Greetings from England.

24 China China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of more than 1.4 billion. China spans five geographical time zones and borders 14 countries, the second most of any country in the world after Russia. Covering an area... read more

China has absolutely beautiful traditional music that often conveys the feelings of love and sorrow. It really shouldn't be overlooked as China has some of the most ancient and diverse cultures in the world.

China is often overshadowed by Japan and Korea. Honestly, Chinese music is the best. The traditional music is great, and so is modern music. There are artists like ExoM, Luhan, GEM, etc.

Harlem Yu, Jane Zhang, the Mouth band, Emil Chau, etc., including Hong Kong and Taiwanese artists, unite for one language, Mandarin Pop!

25 Iran Iran, also known as Persia, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a sovereign state in Western Asia. The capital city is Teheran and the major city is also Tehran. The country's official language is Persian... read more

I'm shocked at how low this is. If we're on about music today then yeah, Iran does deserve to be pretty low. But, if we're talking about TRUE Persian music (until the early 2000's) this should probably be in the top 10 or 15. Iran has so many instruments that other's don't have, so you know when your hearing Persian music right off the bat. Many famous staples of Persian music are Vigen, Hayedeh, Moein, Iraj Khajeamiri, Dariush, the list goes on and on. Persian music also made a large impact in ancient times. Even with the current Iranian government crippling the people and their freedom, music helps us get through everything. If you've read till this point, thanks for reading.

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