Top Ten Most Innovative Music Artists
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular... read more Rock, psychedelic music, and art rock were invented by The Beatles. Alice Cooper, KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, etc., were all influenced by The Beatles. They were the first band to evolve as artists and have fans across the world numbering in the billions. The Beatles were the first iconic, legendary, innovative, groundbreaking, massively influential band to rule the world in commercial and artistic success. We would have no music without The Beatles.
There wouldn't be a modern pop sound without The Beatles. The only group from that time period whose sound could fit in today. Just listen to She Loves You or I Want To Hold Your Hand.
They were also able to transform and do a complete 180 from their early '60s selves. If you want to hear innovation, just listen to the entire Sgt. Pepper's album. Game over.
The Beach Boys are an American pop rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The original lineup included brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine. They are widely recognized for their vocal harmonies and innovative studio work, especially... read more Interesting seeing them in 2nd place. They're usually so overlooked. No idea why higgsboson thinks Brian Wilson is a lyrical genius since he didn't write lyrics most of the time, but he was definitely the single greatest musical innovator of the 20th century. The Beatles would not have gone where they did without The Beach Boys. They definitely deserve the top spot, but seeing them in 2nd is also great. (Good Vibrations is 35th on the best songs list. That's how much love The Beach Boys usually get.)
Very overlooked band in terms of how much they (more specifically Brian Wilson) contributed to music, unfortunately. If you're new to their music or only know their surf and summer songs, I suggest listening to the albums Pet Sounds, SMiLE, Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, Sunflower, Surf's Up, Holland, and Love You. All are amazing and innovative albums worth every second of listening.
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. She also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. She is to song what Mozart was to musical composition. She is the Einstein of musical interpretation. She is the Shakespeare of vocal expression. Chithra's impact on the musical world will be as important a contribution as that of Wilbur and Orville Wright on the world of travel.
She has the sweetest voice ever, I bet you.
All her romance songs prove how Chithra is the best innovator.
Pink Floyd are an English progressive rock band formed in 1965 in London, England. They gained international acclaim with their innovative, conceptual music blending progressive rock and psychedelia. The classic lineup included Syd Barrett (vocals and guitar), David Gilmour (vocals and guitar), Nick... read more Why is LP above one of the most innovative artists of all time? Without PF, most bands wouldn't be here today.
David Robert Jones, known professionally as David Bowie (January 8, 1947 - January 10, 2016), was an English singer born in London, the son of a sales promotion officer and a housewife... read more The fact that this pretends to be a list of the most innovative music artists and that David Bowie is not in it should be reason for all involved to hang their heads in relentless shame and ponder the gradual decline of the internet, music culture, and society in general.
Hands down to the great Bowie. He's probably the greatest innovative solo artist you could ever get. This man's sounds were groundbreaking, and he experimented with almost every genre you could name. In fact, he made many genres popular. RIP Starman.
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... read more I knew he would be number one before I even read the list. Simply the greatest.
Greatest on-stage innovator. Not to mention spectacular music.
Only The Beatles and Elvis Presley had more influence on pop music, but no one was more innovative.
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and artist who has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. He gained fame in the 1960s with songs that became anthems for the civil rights and anti-war movements. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in... read more Acoustic and electric. Folk, country, rock, blues, traditional, R&B, Christian, disco, and several things which defy labels or genres. And Sinatra interpretations!
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964. Active until 1973, the band was managed early on by Andy Warhol and became influential for their experimental sound and lyrical themes. Members included Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Maureen Tucker. Profound influence on alternative rock. Same with Iggy Pop and the Stooges.
Stevland Hardaway Morris, known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a child prodigy and signed with Motown's Tamla label at age 11. Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards and is known for hits like Superstition and... read more
Catherine "Kate" Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. She gained prominence in 1978 with her debut single "Wuthering Heights," which topped the UK Singles Chart. Bush is known for her eclectic musical style and has received critical acclaim and numerous awards throughout... read more Kate's songs as a 14-year-old were like they were from space. Then she became even more out there. Ninth Wave is a work of art.
The Newcomers
The Spice Girls are an English pop girl group formed in 1994.
The group consists of Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Melanie Chisholm (Sporty Spice), Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice), Mel B (Scary Spice), and Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice).
Björk Guðmundsdóttir (born November 21, 1965) is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Over her four-decade career, she has developed a unique and eclectic musical style that incorporates elements from electronic, pop, jazz, experimental, trip hop, alternative,... read more She is the most innovative because with every album she releases, there is a new theme or sound.
On her latest album, Biophilia, she used a Tesla coil to play the bassline in her song Thunderbolt. Biophilia was also the world's first app album.
That is the epitome of innovation.
Huge innovator. In every one of her albums, Björk experiments with a new sound and more often than not ends up creating music that isn't just innovative but also beautiful and sublime.
Never in my life have I heard of someone creating a series of virtual reality videos for an album (Vulnicura), using a Tesla coil as a musical instrument (Biophilia), or incorporating Inuit throat singing into their music (Medúlla) before listening to Björk. No one innovates as ceaselessly as her.
The Moody Blues were an English rock band. They first came to prominence playing rhythm and blues music, but their second album, Days of Future Passed, which was released in 1967, was a fusion of rock with classical music and established them as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive... read more
Freddie Mercury was a Zanzibari‑born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Queen. He achieved fame for his flamboyant stage persona and remarkable four-octave vocal range... read more Mercury is a musical genius. He combined opera and rock (Barcelona) and composed in many different genres.
Combining opera with rock is very innovative.
The most talented musical artist.
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Phil Selway, and Ed O'Brien... read more After OK Computer, they decided to go in the direction of less radio-friendly, non-crowd-pleasing tunes. My opinion is they never sold out for profit and continued to make creative music, with each album having a very unique sound and mood.
No one has inspired innovation for me more than Radiohead. They are the reason I try new things.
Never afraid to take risks by totally revamping their sound.
Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor, widely dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll" and regarded as a pivotal cultural icon of the 20th century. His energetic musical interpretation and provocative performance style, bridging racial music traditions in a shifting era, both fueled his fame... read more I think Elvis Presley should be higher on this list and at least in the top ten. He is a big part of today's culture and the biggest singer from the '50s to his death. He basically introduced rock and is probably the only reason why rock is still relevant. The lists seem to be based on how much one likes the music the artist created, not on how innovative the person was. Elvis is one of the most innovative artists who have ever walked the earth.
This list is supposed to be about the innovative ones. And while Elvis isn't necessarily the best artist, he was the one who made rock music big. He opened the eyes of the world to rock, and rock is still a huge genre. To put it simply: No Elvis, no Beatles. So he should be way higher up.
Jimi Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Though his mainstream career lasted only about four years from 1966 to 1970, he's widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in popular music... read more This is way too low a ranking. If this is about innovation, no one moved the blues into the electric/psychedelic era like Hendrix. His studio work is surpassed only by the likes of Prince and Quincy Jones. Hendrix was the next step after Muddy Waters and others first plugged in the blues in Chicago, and he took it way further. Be serious!
One of the greatest innovators and geniuses in musical history. He is in a category all by himself! Innovation - that's Jimi Hendrix! Place him number 1.
He completely changed rock. Look at rock before and after him, and it's completely different.
The Yardbirds are an English rock band formed in London in 1963. The band launched the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963-1965), Jeff Beck (1965-1966), and Jimmy Page (1966-1968), all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest... read more Most of the innovations credited to Led Zeppelin were actually created first by Jimmy Page when he was in The Yardbirds. Later, after some personnel changes and a minor name change to "The New Yardbirds," Jimmy Page changed the name of the band again to Led Zeppelin.
The best guitar lineup in history: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. They created the music that is known as hard rock to this very day.
Paul Frederic Simon is an American musician, singer-songwriter and actor. Simon's fame, influence, and commercial success began as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, formed in 1964 with musical partner Art Garfunkel.
John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 - 8 December 1980), was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and political activist. He rose to worldwide fame as the co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles, the most commercially successful band in... read more
Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 - April 21, 2016) was an American musician, widely regarded as one of the most popular and influential artists of the 1980s. He was known for his eclectic musical style, flamboyant stage presence, and mastery of multiple instruments. Some of his most iconic songs include... read more The best of Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, and James Brown rolled into one, and better than all of them put together. Someone like Prince comes only once in a lifetime.
Prince should be in the top ten. This list seems off to me.
Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), Emily Armstrong (vocals), and Colin Brittain (drums). Linkin... read more Their style is pretty much versatile, combining elements of hip hop, rap, rock, and metal. They innovated the music of the 21st century.
They always do something different for each album.
So innovative, SO AWESOME. It's a shame they're on the bottom of this list.
Madonna Louise Ciccone, known professionally as Madonna, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She has influenced many artists, including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Beyoncé Knowles, and Britney Spears. Often referred to as the "Queen of Pop," she has played a significant... read more Michael Jackson did funk, disco, and new jack swing with some rock and roll. The Beatles did rock, some psychedelic rock, and baroque in Revolver. Madonna has done all of that, plus Latin, country, folk, classical, dubstep, house, acid jazz, trip-hop, techno, and pretty much every genre there is. Madonna went beyond songs about love and sang about religion, abortion, sexuality, and morals. Madonna is the best innovator of music, and she will never lose her impact, no matter how "old" she gets. Hail Queen Madge.
Buddy Holly, born Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959) was an American musician and singer-songwriter who was a central figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. He was a rising star when a tragic plane crash struck him down at age 22... read more Paved the way for the music of the '60s, and all within a span of 3 years. The Beatles probably wouldn't exist if it hadn't been for Buddy.
Led Zeppelin was an English hard rock band formed in London in 1968 as the New Yardbirds. The group consisted of Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass, keyboard), and John Bonham (drums). The band was largely the brainchild of Jimmy Page, who even financed their first tour... read more Maybe they were influenced by The Beatles, but Zeppelin was one of the most innovative rock bands of all time. First, the sound of Zeppelin can now be found in nearly every post-Zeppelin rock band (e.g., Nirvana, Guns N' Roses, even Queen, and many more). Second, guitarist Jimmy Page was innovative by discovering new techniques like the reverse echo. He even experimented with a violin bow on a guitar, which is really innovative.
Madonna above these legends?! They helped pioneer Heavy Metal.
Black Sabbath were a heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1968 by guitarist and songwriter Tony Iommi, singer John "Ozzy" Osbourne, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. Their self-titled debut album received mixed reviews, but they quickly gained a strong following... read more