Introduction
Contemporary music is a vast and ever-changing landscape, with new genres and subgenres emerging all the time. But what exactly is contemporary music? And how did it come to be?
In this article, we’ll take a brief look at the history of contemporary music, from its roots in the early 20th century to the present day. We’ll also explore some of the most popular and influential genres of contemporary music, including grunge, hip hop, and K-pop.
A Brief History of Contemporary Music
The history of contemporary music can be traced back to the early 20th century, when composers began to experiment with new sounds and techniques. This period, known as the "Modernist era," saw the rise of a wide variety of new genres, including jazz, blues, and electronic music.
In the 1960s and 1970s, contemporary music continued to evolve, with the emergence of new genres such as rock, soul, and funk. This period also saw the rise of the counterculture movement, which had a profound impact on the music of the time.
In the 1980s and 1990s, contemporary music continued to diversify, with the rise of hip hop, house, and techno. This period also saw the rise of MTV, which helped to popularize new genres of music and bring them to a wider audience.
In the 2000s and 2010s, contemporary music has continued to evolve, with the rise of new genres such as dubstep, trap, and K-pop. This period has also seen the increasing popularity of streaming services, which have made it easier for people to discover new music from all over the world.
From Grunge to K-Pop and Beyond
In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most popular and influential genres of contemporary music.
- Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the early 1990s. The genre is characterized by its heavy, distorted guitars, dark lyrics, and lo-fi production. Grunge was pioneered by bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, and it quickly became one of the most popular genres of music in the world.
- Hip hop
Hip hop is a genre of music that originated in the African-American communities of New York City in the 1970s. The genre is characterized by its rapping, sampling, and DJing. Hip hop has become one of the most popular genres of music in the world, and it has had a profound impact on popular culture.
- K-pop
K-pop is a genre of popular music that originated in South Korea in the 1990s. The genre is characterized by its catchy melodies, elaborate choreography, and stylish visuals. K-pop has become one of the most popular genres of music in the world, and it has helped to put South Korea on the map as a global cultural powerhouse.
These are just a few of the many genres that make up contemporary music. The landscape of contemporary music is constantly changing, and new genres are emerging all the time. But one thing is for sure: contemporary music is a vibrant and diverse art form that continues to push the boundaries of creativity.
For just a small sample weve made a list of 10 2010s albums by modern artists that 90s grunge fans need to hear You may already know these albums but if you dont and you still play The grunge wave Cobain fronted kicked out 1980s pop and rock and set the glum tone for modern guitar music forevermore from Korn Linkin Park and Nickelback to early Radiohead and BeyondThe style developed all around the world but the New York scene was what really blew up and sent the entire movement into the mainstream with the release of The Strokes39 Is This It in 2001 leading to widespread focus on New York39s music scene which had another movement going on inspired by the PostPunk artists of the 8039s and 9039s but that Grunge itself might have been born from punk and garage but coupled to this was the
influence of Black Sabbath And it was probably Arms most significant band Green River who were the first real grungers In the mid80s Green River were dirty unkempt and lofi both musically and sartorially in a period when hairspray and spandex The Lasting Impact of Grunge Rock By Mark Ellis 1051 PM on May 22 2020 AP PhotoRobert Sorbo File In April of 1990 hardscrabble Washington state rock band Nirvana signed a major label deal This year marks twenty years since 1994 a year that saw two key movements in western youth culture the end of US grunge marked by the suicide of Nirvanas singer and songwriter Kurt Cobain and the start of the Britpop marked by the release of seminal albums Parklife by Blur and Definitely Maybe by Oasis Although these startend points are rather arbitrary the media
love to create The Swing Era in the 30s transformed into the Sing Era in the 40s Rock n roll altered the musical landscape in the 50s and punk and grunge emerged in the 70s and 90s as evidence that rockApril 5 2020 By Wyoming Reynolds Photo Charles Peterson To many of a certain age April 5 1994 was and will forever be an inflection point Grunge ruled and Seattle was the center of the
Contemporary music is a reflection of the times we live in. It’s a way for us to express our thoughts and feelings, and to connect with others. It’s a powerful force for good, and it can make the world a better place.
