Music, Contemporary Genres Portal

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Music pervades many aspects of contemporary everyday life; it appears in commercials, blares from speakers in stores and restaurants, accompanies commuters on the way to work, and..." /> <meta name="keywords" content="Music, Contemporary Genres, LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Country Music', url='/browse/Country-Music'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='Loretta Lynn', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Loretta-Lynn'}, Link{text='Jimmie Rodgers', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jimmie-Rodgers'}, Link{text='Reba McEntire', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Reba-McEntire'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Folk Music', url='/browse/Folk-Music'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='Phil Ochs', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Phil-Ochs'}, Link{text='Joan Baez', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joan-Baez'}, Link{text='James Taylor', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Taylor'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Jazz Music', url='/browse/Jazz-Music'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='Gene Krupa', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gene-Krupa'}, Link{text='Cassandra Wilson', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cassandra-Wilson'}, Link{text='Dave Brubeck', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dave-Brubeck'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Pop Music', url='/browse/Pop-Music'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='Madonna', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Madonna-American-singer-and-actress'}, Link{text='Katy Perry', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katy-Perry'}, Link{text='Jonas Brothers', url='https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jonas-Brothers'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Rap & Hip-Hop Music', url='/browse/Rap-Hip-Hop-Music'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='JAY-Z', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jay-Z'}, Link{text='Nicki Minaj', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicki-Minaj'}, Link{text='Lil Wayne', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lil-Wayne'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Rock Music', url='/browse/Rock-Music'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='the Beatles', url='https://www.britannica.com/topic/the-Beatles'}, Link{text='Kurt Cobain', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kurt-Cobain'}, Link{text='Guns N’ Roses', url='https://www.britannica.com/topic/Guns-N-Roses'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Singer-Songwriters', url='/browse/Singer-Songwriters'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='Joni Mitchell', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joni-Mitchell'}, Link{text='Lady Gaga', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lady-Gaga'}, Link{text='Justin Timberlake', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Justin-Timberlake'}]], LinkListWithTitle[title=Link{text='Soul/R&B Music', url='/browse/Soul-Rhythm-Blues-Music'}, description=null, links=[Link{text='doo-wop', url='https://www.britannica.com/art/doo-wop-music'}, Link{text='Etta James', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Etta-James'}, Link{text='Alicia Keys', url='https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alicia-Keys'}]]" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.britannica.com/browse/Contemporary-Music" /> <title>Music, Contemporary Genres Portal | Britannica</title> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel"> window.$UI = {}; 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class="link-white" href="/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture">Entertainment & Pop Culture</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> Music, Contemporary Genres </span> </nav> <h1 class="font-serif mt-30 mb-20">Music, Contemporary Genres</h1> <div class="font-serif grid"> <div class="col-sm-70 col-sm-offset-15"> Hey, what's that sound? Music pervades many aspects of contemporary everyday life; it appears in commercials, blares from speakers in stores and restaurants, accompanies commuters on the way to work, and energizes gym-goers when their motivation is flagging. Music festivals such as Lollapalooza (in Chicago) and the Sziget Festival (in Budapest) attract enormous crowds by featuring an extensive lineup of musicians over several days. Today's music can be divided into any number of categories and subcategories, encompassing genres such as pop, jazz, rock, alternative, country, electronic, rap, and much more.</div> </div> <div class="text-hr text-hr-right border-navy font-12 text-uppercase font-weight-bold mt-30 ls-lg">Browse Subcategories</div> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 mt-20 category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"> <a href="/browse/Country-Music" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Country Music</a> <a href="/browse/Folk-Music" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Folk Music</a> <a href="/browse/Jazz-Music" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Jazz Music</a> <a href="/browse/Pop-Music" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Pop Music</a> <a href="/browse/Rap-Hip-Hop-Music" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Rap & Hip-Hop Music</a> <a href="/browse/Rock-Music" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Rock Music</a> <a href="/browse/Singer-Songwriters" class="link-white mr-20 mr-sm-30">Singer-Songwriters</a> <a href="/browse/Soul-Rhythm-Blues-Music" class="link-white ">Soul/R&B Music</a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <h2 class="label my-30">Music, Contemporary Genres Encyclopedia Articles</h2> <div class="grid top g-10 mb-40"> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "> <a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="/browse/Contemporary-Music/1">12--BRI</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "> <a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="/browse/Contemporary-Music/2">BRO-DOR</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "> <a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="/browse/Contemporary-Music/3">DOR-HAY</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "> <a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="/browse/Contemporary-Music/4">HAY-KöL</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "> <a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="/browse/Contemporary-Music/5">LAD-O C</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "> <a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="/browse/Contemporary-Music/6">OIS-SEG</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "> <a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="/browse/Contemporary-Music/7">SER-WAL</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "> <a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="/browse/Contemporary-Music/8">WAR-ḤāF</a> </div> </div> </div> <h2 class="label my-30 text-center">Featured Articles</h2> <div class="js-pinboard grid gy-20"> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Louis-Armstrong" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/27/125427-050-28FB4BA8/Louis-Armstrong-1953.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Louis Armstrong" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Louis-Armstrong" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Louis Armstrong</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Louis Armstrong was the leading trumpeter and one of the most influential artists in jazz history. Although Armstrong claimed to be born in 1900, various documents, notably a baptismal record, indicate... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bing-Crosby" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/194425-050-3C28DC3A/Bing-Crosby.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Bing Crosby" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bing-Crosby" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Bing Crosby</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Bing Crosby was an American singer, actor, and songwriter who achieved great popularity in radio, recordings, and motion pictures. 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Rather than designating a single genre, electronic dance music (EDM) encompasses styles ranging from... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sergey-Prokofiev" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/67501-050-2D6543D1/Sergey-Prokofiev.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Sergey Prokofiev" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sergey-Prokofiev" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Sergey Prokofiev</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Sergey Prokofiev was a 20th-century Russian (and Soviet) composer who wrote in a wide range of musical genres, including symphonies, concerti, film music, operas, ballets, and program pieces. Prokofiev... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/B-B-King" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/188114-050-509AC2A7/American-BB-King.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="B.B. King" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/B-B-King" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">B.B. King</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> B.B. King was an American guitarist and singer who was a principal figure in the development of blues and from whose style leading popular musicians drew inspiration. King was reared in the Mississippi... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alicia-Keys" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/56/257756-050-E1BE72C5/Alicia-Keys.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Alicia Keys" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alicia-Keys" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Alicia Keys</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Alicia Keys is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress who achieved enormous success in the early 2000s with her blend of R&B and soul music. Her notable songs include “Fallin’” (2001), “No... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tim-Rice" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/16/157016-050-79AA1135/Tim-Rice-1989.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Tim Rice" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tim-Rice" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Tim Rice</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Tim Rice is an English lyricist who coauthored some of the most successful stage and film musicals of the 20th century. He often collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and their notable works included... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Young" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/76/125676-050-F584130B/Neil-Young-2008.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Neil Young" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Young" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Neil Young</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Neil Young is a Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his idiosyncratic output and eclectic sweep, from solo folkie to grungy guitar-rocker. Young grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bruno-Mars" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/181620-050-857BEA59/Bruno-Mars.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Bruno Mars" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bruno-Mars" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Bruno Mars</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Bruno Mars is an American singer and songwriter who is known for both his catchy pop music—which often features upbeat lyrics, blends different genres, and has a retro quality—and his energetic live performances.... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Miles-Davis" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/7922-004-E6D87AB4/Miles-Davis-1969.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Miles Davis" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Miles-Davis" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Miles Davis</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Miles Davis was an American jazz musician, a great trumpeter who as a bandleader and composer was one of the major influences on the art from the late 1940s. 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Parker was the principal stimulus of the modern jazz... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leiber-and-Stoller" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.130.14" class="default col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Leiber-and-Stoller" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Leiber and Stoller</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Leiber and Stoller, American songwriters and record producers. Jerry Leiber (in full Jerome Leiber; b. April 25, 1933, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.—d. August 22, 2011, Los Angeles, California) and Mike Stoller... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Art-Tatum" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/150748-050-8403B34B/Art-Tatum-1947.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Art Tatum, c. 1947." class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Art-Tatum" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Art Tatum</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Art Tatum was an American pianist, considered one of the greatest technical virtuosos in jazz. Tatum, who was visually impaired from childhood, displayed an early aptitude for music. At age 13, after starting... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-Loewe" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/70/67570-004-66BE2A01/Frederick-Loewe-1970.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Frederick Loewe, c. 1970." class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frederick-Loewe" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Frederick Loewe</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Frederick Loewe was a German-born American composer and collaborator with Alan Jay Lerner on a series of hit musical plays, including the phenomenally successful My Fair Lady (1956; filmed 1964). Loewe,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shania-Twain" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/90/240990-050-AB74F377/Shania-Twain-2003-Super-Bowl-XXXVII.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Shania Twain" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shania-Twain" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Shania Twain</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Shania Twain is a Canadian singer and musician who, with her mix of country melodies and pop vocals, became one of the most popular crossover artists of the mid-1990s. Edwards took the surname of her stepfather,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aretha-Franklin" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/681-050-4BC40E49/Aretha-Franklin-1993.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Aretha Franklin" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aretha-Franklin" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Aretha Franklin</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Aretha Franklin was an American singer who defined the golden age of soul music of the 1960s. Franklin’s mother, Barbara, was a gospel singer and pianist. Her father, C.L. Franklin, presided over the New... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rick-Rubin" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/108998-050-1531FDB8/American-record-producer-Rick-Rubin-2014.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Rick Rubin" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rick-Rubin" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Rick Rubin</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Rick Rubin is an American record producer whose light touch and keen ear made him one of the most sought-after producers in popular music. Rubin grew up listening to heavy metal and early punk, and he... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Buble-Canadian-singer" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/205050-050-926229F4/Michael-Buble-2009.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Michael Bublé" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-Buble-Canadian-singer" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Michael Bublé</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Michael Bublé is a Canadian singer and songwriter who found fame in the early 21st century with a combination of reworked swing-era classics and original ballads. As a child, Bublé enjoyed a particularly... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christina-Aguilera" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.130.14" class="default col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Christina-Aguilera" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Christina Aguilera</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Christina Aguilera is an American pop singer who emerged during the teen pop explosion of the late 1990s and experienced almost instant commercial success. Along with Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rihanna" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/211883-050-46933F1A/Rihanna-Barbadian-singer-Robyn-Fenty.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Rihanna" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rihanna" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Rihanna</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Rihanna is a Barbadian pop and rhythm-and-blues (R&B) singer who became a worldwide star in the early 21st century. She is known for her distinctive and versatile voice and for her fashionable appearance.... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marvin-Gaye" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/70/222170-050-B30239EC/American-singer-and-composer-Marvin-Gaye-1970s.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Marvin Gaye" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marvin-Gaye" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Marvin Gaye</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Marvin Gaye was an American soul singer-songwriter-producer who, to a large extent, ushered in the era of artist-controlled popular music of the 1970s. Gaye’s father was a storefront preacher; his mother... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nat-King-Cole" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/166138-050-993F3E14/Nat-King-Cole-1947.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Nat King Cole" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nat-King-Cole" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Nat King Cole</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Nat King Cole was an American musician hailed as one of the best and most influential pianists and small-group leaders of the swing era. Cole attained his greatest commercial success, however, as a vocalist... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lin-Manuel-Miranda" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/222706-050-ED1F1D4F/Lin-Manuel-Miranda-2020.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Lin-Manuel Miranda" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lin-Manuel-Miranda" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Lin-Manuel Miranda</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Lin-Manuel Miranda is an American actor, composer, lyricist, and writer who created and starred in stage productions that blended modern musical forms with classic musical theatre. Perhaps his best-known... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Bowie" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/90/22990-004-A249FBF0/David-Bowie.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="David Bowie" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Bowie" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">David Bowie</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> David Bowie was a British singer, songwriter, and actor who was most prominent in the 1970s and best known for his shifting personae and musical genre hopping. To call Bowie a transitional figure in rock... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katy-Perry" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/91/154391-050-4F9D5FCD/Pop-music-sensation-Katy-Perry.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Katy Perry" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katy-Perry" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Katy Perry</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Katy Perry is an American pop singer who gained fame for a string of anthemic and often sexually suggestive hit songs, as well as for a playfully cartoonish sense of style. Katy Hudson was raised in southern... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Duke-Ellington" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/301-050-049D071C/Duke-Ellington.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Duke Ellington" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Duke-Ellington" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Duke Ellington</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Duke Ellington was an American pianist who was the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of his time. One of the originators of big-band jazz, Ellington led his band for more than half a century, composed... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tina-Turner" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/33/200233-050-561EEF58/Tina-Turner.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Tina Turner" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tina-Turner" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Tina Turner</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Tina Turner was an American-born singer who found success in the rhythm-and-blues, soul, and rock genres in a career that spanned five decades. Turner was born into a sharecropping family in rural Tennessee.... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Baron-Lloyd-Webber-of-Sydmonton" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/193789-050-B72C4B94/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-2005.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Andrew Lloyd Webber" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Baron-Lloyd-Webber-of-Sydmonton" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Andrew Lloyd Webber</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Andrew Lloyd Webber is an English composer and theatrical producer whose eclectic rock-based works helped revitalize British and American musical theater, beginning in the late 20th century. Lloyd Webber... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shakira" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/08/226508-050-251FF478/Shakira-performs-Davis-Cup-2019-Spain.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Shakira" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shakira" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Shakira</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Shakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, musician, and dancer who built a successful career in both Spanish- and English-speaking markets to become one of the most popular Latin American recording artists... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bruce-Springsteen" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/87/221887-050-446D4C35/American-singer-songwriter-bandleader-Bruce-Springsteen-2015.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="The Boss" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bruce-Springsteen" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Bruce Springsteen</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Bruce Springsteen is an American singer, songwriter, and bandleader who became the archetypal rock performer of the 1970s and ’80s. With his poetic lyrics describing the lives of everyday Americans, his... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julio-Iglesias" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/164973-050-837BC8A4/Julio-Iglesias-award-albums-Spain-2011.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Julio Iglesias" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julio-Iglesias" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Julio Iglesias</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Julio Iglesias is a Spanish singer and songwriter whose romantic image, magnetic stage presence, and expressive music made him one of the best-selling artists of all time. By the early 21st century, he... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pharrell-Williams" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/69/257469-050-A611D106/pharrell-williams-2019-essence-festival.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Pharrell Williams" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pharrell-Williams" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Pharrell Williams</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Pharrell Williams is an American musician who was involved in a number of pop hits as part of the producing team the Neptunes, as a songwriter, as a member of the band N.E.R.D., and as a solo performer.... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kander-and-Ebb" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/90525-050-D1034C67/Cabaret-Liza-Minnelli-Joel-Grey-The-Berlin.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Cabaret" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kander-and-Ebb" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Kander and Ebb</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Kander and Ebb were an American songwriting duo who collaborated for more than 40 years—from the mid-1960s to the early 2000s—to produce scores for many successful musicals and films. Kander composed the... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benny-Goodman" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/79/979-050-077901DE/Benny-Goodman.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Benny Goodman" class="col-100" /> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benny-Goodman" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Benny Goodman</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Benny Goodman was an American jazz musician, bandleader, and renowned 20th-century clarinet virtuoso. Dubbed the “King of Swing,” Goodman was also a complex personality whose relentless pursuit of perfection... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="adm my-30"></div> <div class="subcategories"> <h2 class="h4 mt-40 mb-30 font-weight-bold">Music, Contemporary Genres Subcategories</h2> <div class="grid gy-30 mb-30"> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Country-Music"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/38/157038-050-E345319E/Kris-Kristofferson.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Kris Kristofferson, 2010" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Country-Music" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Country Music</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Country music's roots lie in the ballads, folk songs, and popular songs of the English, Scots, and Irish settlers of the Appalachians and other parts of the American South. Country songs regularly feature stringed instruments such as the fiddle, guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and the genre is especially associated with ballads and dance tunes. The gap between country and the mainstream of pop music narrowed with the replacement by electric guitars of more traditional instruments, though country music has retained an unmistakable character as one of the few truly indigenous American musical styles. The genre's celebrated artists include such diverse performers as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, and Kacey Musgraves.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Loretta-Lynn">Loretta Lynn</a> <div class="font-serif">American singer</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jimmie-Rodgers">Jimmie Rodgers</a> <div class="font-serif">American singer</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Reba-McEntire">Reba McEntire</a> <div class="font-serif">American singer and actress</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Folk-Music"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/resources/encyclopedia-placeholder.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="subcategory placeholder" class="col-100 mb-15" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Folk-Music" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Folk Music</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> means different things to different people; its definition varies according to the part of the world and the period of history. Typically, folk music is thought of as a type of traditional and generally rural music that was originally passed down through families or other small social networks. Traditional village society had a robust musical life, and folk songs were composed to tell narratives, to commemorate various milestones and events, to serve as an accompaniment to dancing, and more. In the 20th century, folk music notably came to be used more broadly by dissident movements, and the musical form was taken up by those seeking social and economic reform, opposing wars, or advocating for environmental protection. This kind of protest music was notably created by folk musicians such as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Joan Baez. By the end of the 20th century, the concept of folk music was dominated by recent creations drawing on musical and poetic features that associate them with older traditions. Folk-music elements were increasingly incorporated into pop music, leading to the creation of mixed genres such as folk rock.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Phil-Ochs">Phil Ochs</a> <div class="font-serif">American folksinger and songwriter</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joan-Baez">Joan Baez</a> <div class="font-serif">American singer and political activist</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Taylor">James Taylor</a> <div class="font-serif">American musician</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Jazz-Music"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/77/134577-004-E74DCCF3/Betty-Carter-1986.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Betty Carter" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Jazz-Music" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Jazz Music</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Do you prefer your music to be a little off-the-cuff? Perhaps jazz would fit the bill. Jazz music, which was developed by African Americans and was influenced by both African rhythms and European harmonic structure, first appeared at the turn of the 20th century and has since undergone several distinctive phases of development. Although any attempt to formulate an all-encompassing definition of jazz may be hopeless, jazz music is often identified with the use of syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, deliberate deviations of pitch, and original timbres. Renowned jazz musicians and composers such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane, as well as celebrated jazz singers such as Billie Holiday, made an indelible mark in jazz's constantly evolving history and continue to serve as a major influence and inspiration for countless musicians.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gene-Krupa">Gene Krupa</a> <div class="font-serif">American musician</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cassandra-Wilson">Cassandra Wilson</a> <div class="font-serif">American musician</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dave-Brubeck">Dave Brubeck</a> <div class="font-serif">American musician</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Pop-Music"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/83/211883-050-46933F1A/Rihanna-Barbadian-singer-Robyn-Fenty.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Rihanna" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Pop-Music" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Pop Music</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Whether you love it or hate it, pop music can be hard to avoid. That's because its defining characteristic is its popularity within a culture (or across multiple cultures). Historically, popular music was thought as of any non-folk form that acquired mass popularity; more recently, it can be defined as any commercially oriented music principally intended to be received and appreciated by a wide audience. Popular music styles tended to move westward from Europe to the United States until the early 20th century, when new American forms such as ragtime and Broadway musicals were enthusiastically embraced in Europe. Since then, Western popular music has been dominated by developments in the United States. Popular music has variously included musical forms such as ragtime, jazz, swing, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, rock, disco, hip-hop, and rap. </div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Madonna-American-singer-and-actress">Madonna</a> <div class="font-serif">American singer and actress</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katy-Perry">Katy Perry</a> <div class="font-serif">American singer</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jonas-Brothers">Jonas Brothers</a> <div class="font-serif">American band</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Rap-Hip-Hop-Music"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/74/23574-050-0C21E8F5/Public-Enemy.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Public Enemy" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Rap-Hip-Hop-Music" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Rap & Hip-Hop Music</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Rap music originated in African American communities in New York City during the 1970s, but its popularity and global impact rapidly expanded. Rap evolved as one element of the hip-hop movement. Hip-hop was also the wellspring of several staple techniques of modern pop music, including digital drumming and sampling. Rappers such as Ice Cube, Eminem, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Cardi B have achieved global prominence.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jay-Z">JAY-Z</a> <div class="font-serif">American rapper and entrepreneur</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nicki-Minaj">Nicki Minaj</a> <div class="font-serif">Trinidadian-born singer, songwriter, and television...</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lil-Wayne">Lil Wayne</a> <div class="font-serif">American rapper</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Rock-Music"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/30/195430-050-34155BC8/Chuck-Berry-1960.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Chuck Berry" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Rock-Music" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Rock Music</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">Are you ready to rock out? Rock music originated in the United States in the 1950s, and by the '90s its impact was apparent on a global scale. Rock became the most inclusive of musical genres; if other kinds of music—e.g., classical, jazz, easy listening, country, folk, etc.—are marketed as minority interests, rock defines the musical mainstream. Rock's origins lie in rock and roll, a new form of American popular music in the 1950s that was personified early on by Elvis Presley. Other successful rock singers, musicians, and groups include Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Tina Turner, Led Zeppelin, Courtney Love, Bob Dylan, and Patti Smith.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/the-Beatles">the Beatles</a> <div class="font-serif">British rock group</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kurt-Cobain">Kurt Cobain</a> <div class="font-serif">American musician</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Guns-N-Roses">Guns N’ Roses</a> <div class="font-serif">American rock group</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Singer-Songwriters"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/70/193570-050-D063125F/Bruce-Cockburn.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Bruce Cockburn" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Singer-Songwriters" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Singer-Songwriters</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3"></div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joni-Mitchell">Joni Mitchell</a> <div class="font-serif">Canadian singer-songwriter</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lady-Gaga">Lady Gaga</a> <div class="font-serif">American singer-songwriter and actress</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Justin-Timberlake">Justin Timberlake</a> <div class="font-serif">American singer, songwriter, actor, and producer</div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25"> <a href="/browse/Soul-Rhythm-Blues-Music"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/188114-050-509AC2A7/American-BB-King.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="B.B. King" class="col-100 mb-20" /> </a> <a href="/browse/Soul-Rhythm-Blues-Music" class="font-weight-bold font-16">Soul/R&B Music</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 line-clamp clamp-3">soul" both initially described types of African-American popular music with origins in the 1940s and '50s. However, the terms' definitions have evolved significantly over time, as both categories saw the incorporation of elements of pop and electronic music, among other changes. Celebrated soul and R&B artists include Etta James, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Amy Winehouse, Usher, and Alicia Keys.</div> <div class="label mt-20">Articles</div> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/art/doo-wop-music">doo-wop</a> <div class="font-serif">music</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Etta-James">Etta James</a> <div class="font-serif">American singer</div> </li> <li class="mt-20"> <a class="font-weight-bold" href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alicia-Keys">Alicia Keys</a> <div class="font-serif">American musician</div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <DIV class="marketing-CATEGORY_PAGE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="CATEGORY_PAGE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Britannica Premium</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Did you know you're not getting the full Britannica experience? 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