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FUN FACTS ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC

FUN FACTS ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC

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    Fun’ and ‘classical music’ are two terms seldom found in the same sentence together; but we believe there’s plenty of humour and excitement to be found within the realm of the music genre.

    To prove this point, we’ve compiled a list of fun facts about classical music and composers, some of which act as a reminder that classical composers are just like us: human beings with their own hobbies, interests, quirks and personalities. Trust us, we know it can be hard to accept that legends like Bach, Beethoven and Bizet had a lighter side, but they did!

    Speaking of classical music, we’ve got a boatload of classical compositions within our catalogue of over 175,000 tracks. Head on over to our orchestral page, and you’ll find a wealth of classical playlists, including a nostalgic playlist, horror playlist and comedy playlist. Alternatively, you can scan through our expertise category over on The Edit to read more about the classical genre and music in general.

    Our Classical Music Fun Facts

    1. Compoer Trivia: Grieg

    Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg always kept a frog doll made from cloth in his pocket, and every time he performed he would pat the frog on the head for good luck. Hearsay suggests that Grieg was given the frog by a little girl who was visiting his hometown of Troldhaugen. Discover more Grieg facts in the video below.

    2. Obscure Classical Composers: Schoenberg

    American-Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg had an irrational fear of the number 13: a condition officially named triskaidekaphobia. His fear was so extreme that he deliberately misspelt his opera Moses und Aron (missing out one of the As from 'Aaron') to ensure the title had 12 letters, not 13. Scarily enough, the composer passed away on 13th July 1951. Perhaps the number really is cursed...

    3. A Hungover Genius

    Mozart wrote the overture to his opera, Don Giovanni, in three hours on the morning of its debut, and he did this whilst suffering from a hangover. Reportedly, he was out drinking with friends the night before when, fortunately, one of them reminded him that he was yet to write the opera’s opening orchestral piece. Is this a sign that we should all get drunk more often? Possibly.

    4. The Red Hedgehog Tavern

    It’s hard to believe that Romantic-era composer Johannes Brahms was a regular pub-goer, but it’s true! The man responsible for lullaby composition Wiegenlied would visit his favourite pub in Vienna – The Red Hedgehog Tavern – almost every day. Is this further evidence of a link between alcohol and creativity? We’d like to think so.

    5. Greedy Guts George

    George Frederic Handel was well known for ordering enough food for three people when he was eating out for dinner. All we can say to that is, we feel you bro, and we’re grateful that the food provided you with the energy to compose Largo – one of our all-time favourite compositions. Never heard it? Check out the video below.

    6. Trainspotting

    Dvorak, was a keen trainspotter.

    19th Century Czech composer Antonín Dvořák had two passions in life: music and trains. His affinity for the latter – which first developed when he was just nine years old – led the composer to frequently visit various train stations across Prague. He would also ask others, (including his daughter’s boyfriend and locomotive engineers) to provide him with details of their train journeys. We wonder if trains were the inspiration behind his New World Symphony (Symphony No.9).

    7. Little Mushroom

    Austrian composer Franz Schubert – the man behind the Lied Erlkönig – was a stout man who was only around five feet tall. His size and stature earned him the nickname Schwammerl: a word which means ‘little mushroom’ in German (the Austrian and Bavarian dialects of German, to be specific).

    8. Precise Coffee Order

    Like the best of us (sorry, not sorry), Beethoven was an avid coffee drinker, but his coffee order was a lot fussier than ours. The composer would meticulously count 60 coffee beans to ensure that his hot beverage was just as strong as he liked it each and every time. Perhaps a caffeine rush inspired his exhilarating masterpiece Symphony No.5.

    9. Pigtails

    Austrian composer Joseph Haydn was aggravated when he had to drop out of his church choir after puberty stole his angelic voice from him. To channel his frustration, Haydn cut the pigtails off of the head of a fellow male member of the choir. As a consequence, Haydn was caned in public.

    10. Napkin Notes

    If you’re a creative, you’ll know that inspiration often strikes when you least expect it. A famous example of this is when English composer Edward Elgar awoke from his dental surgery experience and swiftly jotted down the main theme to his last work of note, Cello Concerto.

    11. Holst and Horoscopes

    Gustav Holst was inspired to writeThe Planets after being introduced to astrology by writer Clifford Bax. The composer cast his friends’ horoscopes for the rest of his life, and referred to astrology as his ‘pet vice’.

    12. Opera Buffa

    The Marriage of Figaro is a comic opera - also known as an opera buffa - which is where we get the term ‘opera buff’.

    13. Spiders Prefer Bach to Outkast

    During an experiment, when they listened to rap, they made their webs as far from the speakers as possible, but made their webs near to the speakers when Bach was playing!

    14. The Radetzky March, the Victorious Anthem

    The Radetzky March was written by Johann Strauss Senior to commemorate Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky’s victory at the Battle of Custoza, which is why it became a popular tune for military bands and became an unofficial Austrian national anthem.

    15. Beethoven's 9th Symphony

    Beethoven conducted the premiere of his 9th Symphony without hearing a single note.

    16. Bizet's Carmen

    Bizet died thinking his opera Carmen had been a failure - it was only after his death that it took off.

    17. Haydn's Head(s)

    There are two skulls in Haydn’s tomb. His head was stolen by phrenologists, and a replacement skull was put in his tomb. When the real skull was restored in 1954, the substitute remained there…

    18. A Cancelled Booking Gone Right

    The London Symphony Orchestra was booked to travel on the Titanic’s maiden voyage, but they changed boats at the last minute.

    19. The Symphony Which Needs 800 Musicians to Perform It

    Havergal Brian’s Symphony No. 1, the ‘Gothic’, requires over 800 musicians to perform, including 82 string players.

    20. Music & Money

    Edward Elgar appeared on the £20 note until 2010. He was replaced by the Scottish philosopher Adam Smith.

    21. The Child Prodigy

    Mozart wrote his first opera when he was only 14, and had composed 30 symphonies by the age of 18. In total, Mozart wrote more than 600 musical works.

    22. Traditions

    During the first London performance of Handel’s Messiah, King George II stood up as soon as the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ kicked in - after that, it became traditional for audiences to stand for this famous chorus.

    Want to Find Out More about the Classical Collection’s Composers?

    FUN FACTS ABOUT CLASSICAL MUSIC
    DISCOVER THE CLASSICAL COMPOSERS

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    DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

    A COMPLETE GUIDE TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

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      Interested in facts about the orchestra industry? Don’t know your arias from your overtures? Our guide will demystify the top classical music forms.Ever felt daunted by orchestral music? If you’ve never formally studied it, it can be hard to know where to start. What’s the difference between a symphony and a concerto? Who sings an aria? How many members are there in a chamber group?

      W’re also keen to remind you that we’re a production music catalogue with orchestral music of every style imaginable – including action orchestral, horror orchestral, romantic orchestral and more. All of our high-quality orchestral tracks – composed by some of the best musicians in the world – are ready to be licensed for use worldwide, and can be used in anything from a podcast to an advertisement to a blockbuster. Without further ado, let’s get on with the guide.

      Different Types Of Orchestral Music: Your Guide

      • What Is Orchestral Music
      • Different Types of Orchestral Music/ Types of Symphony Genres
        • Classical Orchestra
        • Orchestral Pop
        • Orchestral Hip Hop
        • Electronic Orchestra
        • Orchestral Jazz
      • The Top Types of Orchestral Music
        • Overture
        • Symphonic Poem
        • Symphony
        • Concerto
        • Ballet
        • Opera
          • Types of Opera
        • Chamber Music
          • Types of Chamber music

      What Is Orchestral Music?

      Simply put, orchestral music is music created by an ensemble of instruments called – you guessed it – an orchestra. Instruments from different families come together to form the orchestra, which means you can expect to hear the sounds of string instruments, percussion instruments, brass instruments and woodwind instruments in an effective orchestral piece.

      Typically, an orchestra usually consists of around 70-100 musicians, and these orchestras are often called symphony or philharmonic orchestras. The term philharmonic is made up of two Greek words: Philos which means ‘to love’ and harmonikos which means ‘harmony’.

      If an orchestra consists of less than 50 musicians, the correct term for this type of orchestra is a chamber orchestra. In French, chamber means room, which makes sense considering an orchestra of this size would fit comfortably inside one room.

      Is Orchestra a Genre?

      Although bands are commonly associated with rock music, you would not call a band a genre. The same goes for an orchestra: although orchestras are commonly associated with classical music, it is not appropriate to categorise orchestra as a genre. Also, like a band, an orchestra can embrace a wide variety of genres. Discover just five of those genres below.

      Different Types of Orchestral Music / Types of Symphony Genres

      • Classical Orchestra
      • Orchestral Pop
      • Orchestral Hip Hop
      • Electronic Orchestra
      • Orchestral Jazz

      Classical Orchestra

      As mentioned above, the most recognised genre of orchestral music is classical orchestra music. Classical music follows traditional forms of making music. Strictly speaking, classical music describes music composed during the Classical period of 1750-1820. The most famous composers of this time were Mozart, Bach and Beethoven.

      Orchestral Pop

      Orchestral pop is, quite simply, pop music that’s performed by an orchestra. Personally, the sub-genre reminds us of the most recent James Bond theme tunes – including Adele’s Skyfall, Sam Smith’s Writing on the Wall and Billie Eilish’s No Time to Die; but if you’re not a fan of the spy franchise, you may be more familiar with pop songs such as Clean Bandit’s Rather Be and Ariana Grande’s ghostin.

      Orchestral Hip Hop

      When hip hop rhythms are created by an orchestra, the song can be categorised as orchestral hip hop. The sub-genre has been growing ever since the 90s, and has blessed us with anthems such as Coolio and L.V.’s Gangsta's Paradise and Kanye West’s Flashing Lights.

      Electronic Orchestra

      The electronic orchestra genre consists of compositions that are either performed by an orchestra and later manipulated electronically, or combine orchestral instruments with electronic instruments. One of the best examples of electronic orchestra music is Daft Punk’s score for Disney’s Tron Legacy that was created with an 85-piece orchestra and electronic instruments.

      Orchestral Jazz

      The genesis of orchestral jazz dates back to New York City’s 1920s jazz scene. This structured style of jazz is created when an orchestra embraces the rhythms of New Orleans jazz whilst sticking to their European practices. This genre is comparable to the sounds of another sub-genre of jazz, big band jazz.

      The Top Types of Orchestral Music

      Now that we’ve covered the basics, We’re going to look at the top types of orchestral music, including:

      • Overture
      • Symphonic Poem
      • Symphony
      • Concerto
      • Ballet
      • Opera
      • Chamber Music

      For an instant overview, check out our ultimate classcal playlist, which features a range of the best orchestral pieces by celebrated composers.

      The Overture

      In the earliest days of music being performed, the overture signalled when the audience should take their seats (much as the bell being rung in the concert hall does today). Now, the overture is usually a musical work’s orchestral introduction – the word comes from the French, ouverture, or ‘opening’.

      The overture originated in 17th Century opera as a sung prologue – or a short instrumental flourish. Jean-Baptiste Lully was the first major to use a full-scale overture, in works such as his opera Thésée. The form he used was then imitated not only by opera composers such as Henry Purcell (Dido and Aeneas), but also in oratorios – such as Handel’s Messiah.

      Lully’s form became known as the ‘French overture’. Alessandro Scarlatti was the originator of the ‘Italian overture’; it’s in three sections from quick, to slow, and back to quick, and served as a model for the earliest, three movement, symphonies.

      Later operatic overtures helped to prepare the audience for the play’s plot; merging the music into the opening act, instead of closing before the curtain rises was a technique that Wagner used in his later operas, such as Tristan und Isolde.

      Concert overtures became established in the 19th century as independent, one-movement works, the first of which is generally regarded as Felix Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1826); his overture The Hebrides – also known as Fingal’s Cave – is another celebrated example of the form.

      The Symphonic Poem

      In the 1850s, the concert overture began to be overtaken by the symphonic poem. This was a form devised by Franz Liszt in works that began as overtures. As a form, it was taken up by more ‘progressive’ composers, such as Camille Saint-Saens, Richard Strauss and Arnold Schoenberg.

      The Czech composer Smetana was one of the great proponents of the symphonic poem. His set of six, published under the title of Ma Vlast is agreed to be his best. Composed between 1872 and 1879, the cycle presents selected episodes and ideas from Czech history.

      symphonic poem

      Symphony

      Loosely, a ‘symphony orchestra’ is a large group of string, brass, woodwind and percussion players – so a work written for this kind of ensemble is known as a symphony. These large-scale orchestral works are intended to be played in concert halls and are usually in four movements.

      The standard classical form is:

      • First movement – allegro (brisk and lively) in sonata form
      • Second movement – slower and more lyrical
      • Third movement – an energetic minuet (a dance)
      • Fourth movement – allegro – a rollicking finale, to show off the orchestra’s prowess

      orchestra in studio 2 abbey road studios audio network

      The Sonata Form

      The sonata has two musical themes, or melodies – the first, usually loud and forceful; the second, quiet and lyrical. The first theme is introduced and then the softer second theme comes in – as this section’s purpose is to expose the two melodies, it’s known as the ‘exposition’.

      The ‘development’ follows – the composer varies and makes musical associations between the two themes.

      Finally, the main themes are restated in a slightly different form in the ‘recapitulation’ section.

      For great examples of piano sonatas, listen to Beethoven’s Moonlight sonata, or Mozart’s Sonata in C, or explore the fantastic symphonic collection.

      sonata form flicr

      Concerto

      The concerto features a solo instrument – such the piano, violin, flute or cello - and an orchestra, showcasing what they can do both independently and together. Concertos have three movements – fast, slow, fast.

      For an introduction to concertos, listen to the stately baroque of Bach’s Brandenburg 4, Elgar’s Cello Concerto, or Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto.

      Finally, the main themes are restated in a slightly different form in the ‘recapitulation’ section.

      concerto picture flickr

      Ballet

      For dramatic orchestral music, look no further than the best ballet scores. Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake (1876) was a game-changer in terms of ballet music, as it marked the first time an exclusively symphonic composer had composed a ballet score. Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet is another ballet that you might know as much for its music as its dance moves. A suite is usually a selection of short movements taken from a ballet - what would the festive period be without a performance of The Nutcracker Suite?

      ballerinas on stage

      Opera

      If you’re looking for intense orchestral music, then opera has plenty to choose from. The difference between an opera and a musical is that operas are generally entirely sung, while musicals combine singing with spoken dialogue. Most agree that Monteverdi was the ‘founding father’ of opera, and his L’Orfeo (c1607) ranks as the first great opera. For dramatic intensity, look to Verdi’s Rigoletto or perhaps his most performed work, La Traviata, which contains all the elements of operatic drama: a beautiful, fallen-woman heroine, grand party scenes, a troubled father and a deathbed scene.

      Opera songs are known as arias, many of which have been used over the years commercially and in films.

      Popular Operas

      'O Mio Babbino Caro', Giani Scicci, Puccini

      ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ (Oh My Dear Papa) is a emotional soprano aria from Puccini’s Giani Scicci sung by young protagonist Lauretta, who is begging her Father to help her get married to the lover of her life, Rinuccio. This piece has earned wide acclaim for its emotional effect, just see for yourself this two-year old getting emotional whilst listening to Puccini:

      ‘La donna è mobile’, Rigoletto, Verdi

      ‘La donna è mobile’, from one of Verdi’s most popular operas, Rigoletto. This canzone is often thought to be the centrepiece of the opera, occurring at a turning point in a much-loved story of deceit, love lust and desire. Musical themes established in the short ‘La donna è mobile’ repeat throughout the opera, driving the tale forward.

      ‘Habanera’,Carmen, George Bizets

      Habanera from Carmen – also known as ‘Love is a Rebellious Bird’ is an aria sung by the lovestruck femme fatale title character. Carmen sings how ‘Love is a rebellious bird that none can tame’.

      Types of Opera

      Opera Seria

      Opera Seria is an Italian term that literally translates into ‘serious opera’; naturally, this refers to the weighty, humourless type of operas that were popular during the 1700s such as Mozart’s Idomeneo and Vivaldi’s L'Olimpiade. Apart from being serious, an Opera Seria is defined by its lack of spoken dialogue, emphasis on grand vocals and tragic or heroic narrative.

      Opera Buffa

      Opera Buffa is the Italian term for ‘funny opera’, a type of opera that’s also known as ‘comic opera’. An Opera Buffa is usually more grounded than an Opera Seria and therefore features relatable characters and an everyday plot. Examples include Menotti’s Amelia Goes to the Ball, Bizet’s Don Procopio and Ristori’s Calandro.

      Opera Semiseria

      As you may have suspected, Opera Semiseria is the Italian phrase for ‘semi-serious opera’. It is a midway point between an Opera Seria and Opera Buffa that became popular during the 1800s; it combines emotion with humour to keep an audience entertained. Famous examples of Opera Semiseria include Donizetti’s Linda di Chamounix, Bellini’s Adelson e Salvini and Paer’s Leonora.

      Opera Comique

      French opera style Opera Comique alternates between spoken dialogue and musical numbers – much like a modern-day musical. This type of opera shares its name with a Parisian theatre which was founded under the reign of Louis XIV in 1714. Although its name seems to suggest that this type of opera is always comedic, some of the most famous operas are in fact tales of tragedy – take Bizet’s Carmen, for example.

      Grand Opera

      A Grand Opera is a spectacular type of opera of four or five acts that originates from the 1800s. Often revolving around a historic event or a dramatic tale, a grand opera is comparable to an Opera Seria as it takes on a serious tone and features no spoken dialogue. Early examples of Grand Opera include Auber’s La Muette de Portici, Halévy’s La Juive and Donizetti’s Dom Sébastien, Roi de Portugal.

      Chamber Music

      Chamber music is composed for smaller ensembles of instruments – as it was originally intended to be played in a ‘chamber’ at home. The standard arrangement of instruments for chamber music include the string quartet (two violins, a viola and a cello) and a woodwind ensemble, often accompanied by a piano or harpsichord.

      The small number of musicians gives chamber music its characteristic intimacy and subtlety. Explore different chamber music moods with a peaceful Lullaby from Brahms, Mozart’s thoughtful Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Romanze, or have some fun with Saint-Saëns’ Donkeys as the quartet make asses of themselves as part of the Carnival of the Animals.

      Types of Chamber Music

      Historical Chamber

      Historical Chamber Music is inspired by the era in which chamber orchestras had their inception – during the medieval period. Often, a chamber orchestra would be accompanied by a folk singer who would sing over the rustic rhythms created by the musicians. Our collection of historical chamber tracks includes Ian Hughes’ Courtesans, Royal Consent and Gloriana, all of which you can find over on our Orchestral, Small Ensemble, Historical page.

      Elegant Chamber

      Elegant Chamber Music is thoughtful and soothing: it combines the transportive sounds of the world’s most angelic instruments and vocals to create a touching composition. Frequently optimistic, music of this style is used in media projects to cause the listener to reflect on the narrative. Our collection of Elegant Chamber Music features eight beautiful tracks composed by Gallant, Meegan, Tobin and Kelly, including New World, Butterfly Dream and Lullaby for Dolly.

      Light, Playful Chamber

      Chamber orchestras are ideal for performing light, playful compositions that are suitable for use in fairytales, comedies, romances and other jocund genres. The sprightly rhythms of this style of Chamber Music evokes images of mythical creatures, friendly beings, sweet animals and enchanted settings. Our collection of Robert Bruce’s Light, Playful Chamber Ensembles includes pieces named Applause, Applause, Clockwork and Ladies in Waiting.

      Classical Chamber

      Chamber orchestras are ideal for performing light, playful compositions that are suitable for use in fairytales, comedies, romances and other jocund genres. The sprightly rhythms of this style of Chamber Music evokes images of mythical creatures, friendly beings, sweet animals and enchanted settings. Our collection of Robert Bruce’s Light, Playful Chamber Ensembles includes pieces named Applause, Applause, Clockwork and Ladies in Waiting.

      How to License the Best Orchestral Music

      Looking to license orchestral music? This can sometimes be a challenge because of sound recording copyright.

      Audio Network, however, has a huge variety of specially recorded orchestral music, from chamber music to full symphony orchestras, which is simple and fast to license. The breadth of classical music means that you can find the perfect track for any sort of content:

      • Epic orchestral music – with everything from thrilling action featuring urgent strings and soaring brass to majestic and poignant memorials, go epic to create blockbusters and superhero soundtracks or trailers.
      • Dramatic orchestral music, with high-octane percussion, heroic brass and triumphant choirs is ideal for soundtracking those huge, edge-of-the-seat moments to wow your audience on both the small and big screen
      • Intense orchestral music comes into its own when you’re building the atmosphere and tension for horror movies.

      Or check out Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, as it was used to spine-tingling effect in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now.

      DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

      Need Music for Your Project?

      At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

      SIGN UP

      This page was updated 12/03/2024.

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      BEST TV SHOW SOUNDTRACKS

      BEST TV SHOW SOUNDTRACKS

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        A television soundtrack has several responsibilities: it must aid the visuals in setting the scene, establish the scene's mood, provide the audience with insight into the internal feelings of the character(s) in subject, and hint at the show’s latest direction. Bearing all of this in mind, it’s essential that a television production is picky about their choice of music.

        Whether you’re seeking inspiration for an upcoming television project or simply interested in working your way through the TV shows featuring the best music, we welcome you to explore our list of best TV show soundtracks, below. For each show, we will touch on the plot, the genre of the soundtrack and our favourite musical moment to appear within the show.

         We will also take the opportunity to bring various playlists in our catalogue to your attention, just in case you’re in the market for some production music tracks for your next project.

        Best TV Show Soundtracks: A complete List

        • Big Little Lies
        • Gossip Girl
        • Scandal
        • The Vampire Diaries
        • Suits
        • Sex and the City
        • Stranger Things
        • The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
        • Friends
        • Empire
        • Mad Men
        • Bridgerton
        • Glee
        • Watchmen
        • The Morning Show
        • Game Of Thrones
        • Cowboy Bebop
        • American Horror Story
        • The Handmaid's Tale
        • Lovecraft Country
        • Westworld
        • Peaky Blinders

        Best TV Show Soundtracks: Unpacked

        Big Little Lies (2017 – 2019)

        What is the show about?

        Big Little Lies follows a group of women in Monterey, California who are shaken when a murder takes place in their once-peaceful community.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        Most of the music heard throughout the two seasons of the Big Little Lies soundtrack comes from the soul genre. Featured artists include Michael Kiwanuka, Leon Bridges and Charles Bradley: tranquil voices which make the idyllic Monterey setting appear all the more peaceful.

        Gossip Girl (2007 – 2012)

        What is the show about?

        Gossip Girl focuses on a group of wealthy teenagers who reside in Manhattan, New York City. Drama is created within the group when a mysterious blogger dubbed ‘gossip girl’ exposes secrets about the teenager.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        Each Gossip Girl soundtrack focused on the music that was popular at the time. For example, Bad Romance by Lady Gaga plays during Gossip Girl Season 3 (2009-2010) and Adele’s Rolling in the Deep plays during Gossip Girl Season 4 (2010-2011). Suffice to say, the genre of music can largely be classified as pop.

        What is the best musical moment?

        Scandal (2012 – 2018)

        What is the show about?

        Scandal centres around Olivia Pope, the ex-White House Communications Director who sets up her own crisis management firm in Washington D.C. Pope, who is hired to protect the reputation of members of the upper class, discovers that her employees are hiding just as many secrets as her clients.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        The Scandal soundtrack predominantly relies on old-school R&B and soul to add some flavour to its episodes. Watch the seven seasons and you’ll hear the likes of Roberta Flack’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, Donny Hathaway’s For All We Know and Aretha Franklin’s Do Right Woman, Do Right Man.

        What is the best musical moment?

        Lucifer (2016 – Present)

        What is the show about?

        Lucifer follows fallen angel Lucifer Morningstar who moves from Hell to Los Angeles. In LA, Lucifer runs a nightclub named Lux and becomes an LAPD consultant.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        The Lucifer soundtracks are a mixed bag of songs, one episode you might hear the hip hop sounds of 50 Cent and the next you may hear a sugary pop hit, such as Britney Spears’ Oops!... I Did It Again. Our favourite musical moment from Lucifer is when the cast perform covers of instantly recognisable hits.

        What is the best musical moment?

        The Vampire Diaries (2009 – 2017)

        What is the show about?

        Set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, The Vampire Diaries is primarily concerned with the relationship between teenage girl Elena Gilbert and 162-year-old vampire Stefan Salvatore. Over time, viewers get to know several other members of the town and discover that other supernatural beings such as werewolves and witches also exist in Mystic Falls.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        Indie pop is key to The Vampire Diaries because it imbues the television show with emotion. Some of the most memorable songs from the show are Never Say Never by The Fray, Never Let Me Go by Florence + the Machine and Things We Lost in the Fire by Bastille.

        Suits (2011 – 2019)

        What is the show about?

        Suits focuses on the highs and lows of a New York City law firm. For most of the show, the key story arc revolves around Mike Ross, Harvey Specter’s associate who practises law without a degree.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        By and large, Suits relies on a soundtrack of indie, alternative and new wave music. Tracks of this genre – including When They Fight, They Fight by the Generationals, Chapel Song by Augustines and Fitzpleasure by Alt-J – give the show a grounded feel that helps the audience relate to the various characters.

        Sex and the City (1998 – 2004)

        What is the show about?

        Sex and the City follows four inseparable women based in New York City as they navigate their lives dictated by love, sex and femininity.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        To capture the spirit of New York City the Sex and the City producers opted for a jazz and soul soundtrack featuring famous names such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross and Gloria Gaynor.

        Stranger Things (2016 – Present)

        What is the show about?

        Set during the 80s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things centres on a young group of friends (and their parents and siblings) as they witness a slew of supernatural events.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        A large proportion of Stranger Things’ success is down to the nostalgia the TV show has been able to create for the 1980s. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the Stranger Things soundtrack is bursting with 80s pop tracks including, but not limited to, Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time, The Clash’s Should I Stay or Should I Go and The Police’s Every Breath You Take.

        The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017 – Present)

        What is the show about?

        Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel tells the story of a 1950s Jewish-American housewife, based in New York City, who discovers she has a gift for standup comedy. Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel follows her newfound passion and performs at comedy gigs across the world.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        To help bring the era to life, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel relies on tracks that were popular during the 1950s. Songs include Dean Martin’s I’d Cry Like A Baby, Ella Fitzgerald's Isn’t This A Lovely Day and Who’s Sorry Now by Connie Francis.

        What is the best musical moment?

        Friends (1994 – 2004)

        What is the show about?

        Set in Manhattan, Friends follows the lives of six 20-somethings – Rachel, Ross, Joey, Phoebe, Monica and Chandler – who experience major life events together. Filled with laughs and emotions, the show invites its viewers to feel comforted by the presence of these relatable characters.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        The soundtrack to the ten seasons of Friends features  plenty of upbeat pop and rock, perfect for sit-coms. The soundtrack was made up of a variety of original songs sung by Lisa Kudrow’s character Phoebe, world-renowned pop songs such as Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and party songs such as Love Machine by The Miracles. Oh, and each soundtrack also includes a version of the iconic theme tune, I’ll Be There For You by The Rembrandts.

        Empire (2015 – 2020)

        What is the show about?

        2010s TV show Empire pivots around a hip hop and R&B music company named Empire Entertainment. The founder of the company, Lucious Lyon, is forced to choose a successor after being informed of his medical condition, but things get complicated when his ex-wife Cookie is released from prison.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        As mentioned above, the show focuses on a hip hop and R&B music company, and throughout the six seasons there are several performances from both the cast of the show and guest performers. Naturally, the Empire soundtracks revolve around the hip hop and R&B genres.

        What is the best musical moment?

        Mad Men (2007 – 2015)

        What is the show about?

        Mad Men revolves around New York advertising agency Sterling Cooper (later named Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce) – most especially the company’s Creative Director, Donald Draper.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        Mad Men provides viewers with the complete 1950s/60s Americana experience by relying on a soundtrack brimming with songs popular at the time. To reflect the popular genres at the time, the soundtrack consists of songs from the soul, pop and country folk genres, and more.

        Bridgerton (2020 – Present)

        What is the show about?

        Set in England’s Regency era, Bridgerton follows the various members of the titular family and the rest of The Ton. As the individuals search for love and happiness, an anonymous writer named Lady Whistledown unleashes chaos by spreading gossip about the individuals via her newsletters.

        What genre is the soundtrack?

        The soundtrack to the first season of Bridgerton takes modern pop songs – including Ariana Grande’s Thank U Next and Taylor Swift’s Wildest Dreams – and turns them into modern orchestral pieces. These classical arrangements complement the 19th century setting of the television show and provide viewers with additional context.

        Glee (2009 – 2015)

        What is the show about?

        Television show Glee tells the story of the William McKinley High School glee club named New Directions. Led by the hopeful teacher Mr Schue, the collective group of singers tackle the high school’s most pressing problems by using music as their weapon.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        Each Glee soundtrack is jam-packed with covers of acclaimed pop, rock and R&B songs. Some of the most admired Glee vocal covers include a rendition of Tina Turner’s River Deep, Mountain High, Lady Gaga’s Poker Face and Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind.

        What is the best musical moment?

        Watchmen (2019)

        What is the show about?

        Acting as a sequel of sorts to Alan Moore’s DC Watchmen comic series/graphic novel, HBO’s Watchmen miniseries is fittingly dark, violent and thought-provoking. The show follows detective Angela Abar (AKA Sister Knight) as she discovers the truth behind a white supremacist group called the Seventh Kalvary.

        What genre is the soundtrack?

        The Watchmen soundtrack is completely instrumental and, with the exception of an orchestral rendition of David Bowie’s Life on Mars, all of the songs on the album are composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The songs on the soundtrack are influenced by the classic and electronic genres, providing the audience with unique sounds that inject an extra element of tension into the superhero series.

        What is the best musical moment?

        The Morning Show (2019 – Present)

        What is the show about?

        The Morning Show is an Apple TV+ original that aims to create conversation around the issues of the media industry – most especially, within the news realm. The drama series focuses on the stalwart presenter Alex Levy and her new co-host, Bradley Jackson as they put their differences to one side to tackle a greater evil.

        What genre is the soundtrack?

        The Morning Show soundtrack uses emotional pop and indie tracks to provoke its listener to consider the themes of the show. Featured songs include Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson, Grounds for Divorce by Elbow and Truth Hurts by Lizzo.

        Game of Thrones (2011 – 2019)

        What is the show about?

        Simply put, Game of Thrones is about nine houses that battle against one another to rule the mythical land of Westeros whilst an army of supernatural beings threatens to end their existence.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        The eight Game of Thrones soundtracks are all composed by German-Iranian talent Ramin Djawadi, and the genre can be categorised as epic orchestral.

        What is the best musical moment?

        Cowboy Bebop (1998 – 1999)

        What is the show about?

        Cowboy Bebop is a sci-fi anime show set in 2071 that follows a nonchalant bounty hunter and his teammates as they travel in their spaceship named Bebop.

        What genre is the soundtrack?

        The Cowboy Bebop soundtrack is a lot of fun. Filled with whimsical jazz and funk compositions, the soundtrack provides the show with an idiosyncratic sense of character that’s redolent of 70s cop shows.

        American Horror Story (2011 – Present)

        What is the show about?

        American Horror Story is a horror-inspired anthology series that tells a different story every season. Thus far, there have been nine seasons and titles have included Murder House, Coven, Cult and Apocolypse.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        Each season of American Horror Story has its own unique rock-inspired soundtrack that’s dictated by the vibe of the story. But one thing that each season has in common is that Charlie Clouser, member of rock band Nine Inch Nails, creates the theme tune.

        The Handmaid's Tale (2017 – Present)

        What is the show about?

        Dystopian series The Handmaid’s Tale takes place in the totalitarian society of Gilead – a country that was once part of the United States – and follows a brave and rebellious handmaid named June as she fights for justice from inside of the system.

        What genre are the soundtracks? 

        The music of The Handmaid’s Tale tells the story just as well as the visuals, as the producers are less concerned with the genre of the music and more concerned with the message it conveys. For this reason, the soundtrack to The Handmaid’s Tale features songs from various genres – including alternative, soul and hip hop.

        Lovecraft Country (2020 – Present)

        What is the show about?

        Lovecraft Country is a television series that concurrently explores the occult and the issues of social injustice within a 1950s setting. The main protagonist of the show is Atticus Freeman who goes searching for his missing father alongside his Uncle George and love interest, Letitia.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        The Lovecraft Country soundtrack is filled with old and new hip hop, R&B and soul songs, including Cardi B’s Money, Rihanna’s Bitch Better Have My Money and Nina Simone’s Sinnerman.

        What is the best musical moment?

        Westworld (2016 – Present)

        What is the show about?

        Westworld pivots around a futuristic amusement park that sees guests live out their fantasies with life-like robots called hosts. During the first season of the show, some of these hosts seemingly gain consciousness; pretty swiftly, all hell breaks loose.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        The Westworld soundtrack features versions of contemporary pop and rock songs that work well within the theme of the amusement park. For example, within the Western section of the amusement park, a country piano take of songs such as Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black and Radiohead’s No Surprises can be heard.

        Peaky Blinders (2013 – Present)

        What is the show about?

        Based on real events, Peaky Blinders is centred around a Birmingham gangster family, led by the formidable Thomas Shelby, just after the First World War.

        What genre are the soundtracks?

        Peaky Blinders is a violent, action-driven series that’s married with a rock soundtrack featuring artists such as Joy Division, David Bowie and Arctic Monkeys.

        Music For Your Television Project

        If you’re currently working on your own television project and have been inspired by the soundtracks above, you may want to explore our catalogue of production music tracks.

        Here at Audio Network, we have over 200,000 tracks ready and waiting to be used by you. If you’re looking for a track from a particular genre, we suggest you head on over to our production genre page; if you want to pick your songs based on the emotions they evoke, we recommend exploring out music via  mood/emotion ; or, if you prefer to select your music based on instruments used in the piece, we suggest you check out the variety of  Instrumentation we have available.

        MUSIC FOR TV

        Need Music for Your Project?

        At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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        BEST SELLING ALBUMS OF 2021

        BEST SELLING ALBUMS OF 2021, A COMPLETE LIST

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          In an industry that consistently delivers surprise after surprise, this year the music world felt even more unpredictable than ever.

          So what were the headlines? Well, ABBA made a comeback; a High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star became the world’s biggest pop star; Kanye and Drake released 20+ track rap albums just weeks apart, before uniting on stage at a Free Larry Hoover event.

          In 2021, 35 albums claimed the number one spot, including DJ Khaled’s Khaled Khaled, Adele’s 30 and Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour.

          Keep reading to discover the top album sales of the year and the most popular albums of the year, all according to Billboard.

          What To Expect

          What exactly are we going to cover in this article? Check out the below to find out.

          Best Selling Albums of 2021

          • Evermore – Taylor Swift
          • Folklore – Taylor Swift
          • BE – BTS
          • Sour – Olivia Rodrigo
          • Fearless (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
          • Fine Line – Harry Styles
          • Starting Over – Chris Appleton
          • Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
          • Power Up –AC/DC
          • Greatest Hits – Queen

          Five Most Popular Albums of 2021

          • Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
          • Sour – Olivia Rodrigo
          • Shoot For The Stars Aim For the Moon – Pop Smoke
          • Evermore – Taylor Swift
          • Certified Lover Boy – Drake

          Ones to Watch

          • 30 – Adele
          • Red (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
          • = – Ed Sheeran
          • Live Life Fast – Roddy Rich

          Best Selling Albums of 2021

          Evermore – Taylor Swift

          Evermore came about after Taylor Swift and The National’s Aaron Dessner were keen to continue collaborating after creating the former’s eighth studio album, Folklore.

          The surprise album encapsulates the feeling of being beside the fireplace on a winter’s day; Swift’s voice wraps around the listener, giving them a warm hug.

          Is the singer leaving pop behind to return home to her pastoral roots for good? All will be revealed in due course, we’re sure.

          Folklore – Taylor Swift

          As mentioned above, Folklore is the “older sibling” of Evermore, secretly recorded between April and July of 2020 when COVID forced Taylor to cancel her world tour for previous LP Lover.

          Listen to the album, and you can hear how the album-making process was a therapeutic, cleansing experience for the international superstar.

          BE – BTS

          There’s never been a better time to be part of a Korean band, just ask BTS (Bangtan Boys): a seven-member Korean boy band that’s become a global phenomenon.

          Hell, even our grandparents recognise their songs from the Samsung commercials.

          Originally realeased in 2020, BTS’ BE became of 2021’s top-selling albums too, helped along by the fact it features some of the band’s biggest hits yet, including ‘Dynamite’ and ‘Life Goes On’.

          Genre-wise it’s an extremely chart-friendly mix of pop, hip-hop, funk and disco influences.

          Sour – Olivia Rodrigo

          Olivia Rodrigo was best known as a Disney+ actress in 2020, but this year she became the standout performer of this year’s BRIT Awards, and the youngest solo artist ever to achieve the UK chart double with her single ‘Good 4 U’ and her debut album Sour.

          Essentially, If you fancy an energetic pop-punk mash-up of Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift, then Sour is very much for you.

          Fearless (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift

          ICYMI, Taylor Swift lost her masters to music tycoon Scooter Braun which triggered the singer to re-record all of her albums prior to 2019’s Lover.

          Fearless (Taylor’s Version) was the first of six scheduled re-recorded albums, and features all of the tracks from the Platinum edition of Swift’s debut (initially released in 2009), including fan favourites ‘Love Story’, ‘You Belong With Me’ and ‘Fifteen’.

          Personally, we love how Swift’s mature vocal cords take to her early country-inspired hits.

          Fine Line – Harry Styles

          Ever since One Direction split, Harry Styles has been on a journey of self-discovery.

          Fine Line, the singer’s phenomenally successful second studio album, suggests it’s time to stop the search: he’s already one of Britain’s very best popstars.

          Featuring the singles ‘Treat People With Kindness’, ‘Adore You’, ‘Golden’, ‘Lights Up’, ‘Falling’ and ‘Watermelon Sugar’, Fine Line remains a hit machine, more than two whole years since its original release.

          Starting Over – Chris Stapleton

          Chris Stapleton is preserving the classic country music genre, most recently with his album Starting Over which has found its way onto the top-selling albums of 2021.

          The 14-track record is raw, warm and quintessentially Stapleton.

          Most of all, it’s a record that provides solace during these particularly difficult times. Just like the country singer, we’re ready to start over.

          Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish

          Released on 30th July, Billie Eilish's highly-anticipated second album went straight to the top of the UK album charts, making the 19-year-old superstar the first international female artist to reach number one with her first two albums since Lana Del Rey.

          And the records continue to roll in: Eilish has already been announced as the Friday night headliner at next year’s Glastonbury, making her their youngest solo headliner ever.

          Power Up – AC/DC

          Australian rock band AC/DC proved they’ve still got it in 2020 with the release of their 17th studio album, Power Up – their first without late guitarist Malcolm Young.

          Both Consequence and Rolling Stone included the album in their list of Top 50 Albums of 2020.

          Plus, critics raved about the 12-song record – most especially, lead single ‘Shot in the Dark’ which was nominated for two Grammys. Now, AC/DC can celebrate having one of the top-selling albums of 2021.

          Greatest Hits - Queen

          Are Queen the biggest band in rock history? The stats certainly seem to suggest so.

          For a compilation album to be released in 1981 and appear within the top 10 top-selling albums 40 years later is no mean feat.

          Collectively, it seems we just can’t get enough of classic rock hits like ‘Another One Bites the Dust’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’.

          Five Most Popular Albums 2021

          Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen

          We won’t pretend we weren’t surprised to see Morgan Wallen leading the pack with the most popular album of 2021, but here we are.

          The country singer-songwriter is perhaps the biggest success story to come from NBC’s The Voice; after being eliminated from the TV show, Wallen signed to the independent record label, Panacea Records.

          Now, he’s enjoying success with his 30-track record that features Chris Stapleton and Ben Burgess.

          Sour – Olivia Rodrigo

          As mentioned above, Olivia Rodrigo may be the new girl in town, but she knows how to launch a pop career.

          Her debut album Sour, is a mixture of emotional ballads (‘Driver’s License’), nostalgic pop-punk hits (‘Brutal’) and Tik Tok-ready heartbreak singles (‘Déjà vu’).

          Oh, and, FYI, this isn’t just an album for teens – our whole team is obsessed with the record!

          Shoot For The Stars Aim For the Moon – Pop Smoke

          Pop Smoke’s posthumous career marches on across the world; here in the UK, the Brooklyn rapper is responsible for one of the biggest selling albums of 2021.

          Shoot For the Star Aims For the Moon was exec-produced by 50 Cent and features stars including Quavo, Future and Swae Lee.

          A second album from the late drill icon dropped at the end of July, entitled Faith.

          Evermore – Taylor Swift

          Not only is Evermore the best selling album of 2021, but it’s also one of the year’s most popular albums.

          A whole generation has grown up with Taylor Swift, and they’re keen to continue exploring her story.

          Swifties have already taken this latest chapter to their hearts, with ‘Champagne Problems’, 'Tis the Damn Season’ and ‘Willow’ joining the list of all-time fan faves.

          Certified Lover Boy – Drake

          Toronto’s finest returned in September with his sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy – from the get-go, the album was divisive, and so was the Damien Hirst-designed artwork.

          In case you care, we’re fans of both the music and the cover.

          One thing’s for sure: it’s one of the starriest albums of 2021 so far – there’s Jay-Z, Travis Scott, Future, Kid Cudi (yes, really), Lil Baby, Yebba and more. Our favourite track? It’s got to be ‘Papi’s Home’.

          Albums To Watch

          30 – Adele

          To no one’s surprise, Adele’s done it again. In November 2021, the Tottenham icon released her fourth studio album, which immediately went to number one and became the fastest-selling album of the year.

          This is Adele’s fourth UK number one album, and we imagine it’ll be one of the top-sellers of 2022 too.

          Red (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift

          When Taylor Swift announced that she planned to re-record her first six albums, fans of the singer were super excited to hear an updated take on what many consider her pièce de résistance: Red.

          At the time of writing, Red (Taylor’s Version) is just behind Adele’s 30 as the top-selling album of the week, and we can only imagine that this take on a classic will continue to soar.

          Perhaps the most exciting addition to the album is the extended version of ‘All Too Well’, which broke the Billboard record as the longest number one hit ever.

          = – Ed Sheeran

          Ed Sheeran’s Equals (stylised as =) is the singer’s fourth studio album and, like always, is a cocktail of pop, R&B and folk music.

          Sheeran pleases old fans by staying true to his rustic roots and draws in new fans by playing with bleeding-edge beats and rhythms.

          Singles so far include ‘Bad Habits’, ‘Shivers’ and ‘Visiting Hours’, and more and more people are streaming and purchasing the album. So, watch this space.

          Live Life Fast – Roddy Rich

          23-year-old Roddy Rich may have only released one studio album prior to his upcoming record Live Life Fast, but he’s already a world-renowned star with accolades including a Grammy Award and an American Music Award.

          Will the album become one of the top-selling albums of 2022? Only time will tell.

          Need Music for Your Project?

          At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

          SIGN UP

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          AUDIO NETWORK VINYL

          BEST SOUNDTRACKS OF THE 90S

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            Welcome to our review of the best soundtracks of the 90s!

            If the 1990s taught us anything – except that Will Smith is a streetwear icon and New York City is where it's at when you're a twenty-something singleton – it's that it's cool to support multiple music genres.

            Here, we will be taking a moment to run through the best 90s soundtracks, an extensive list including those mentioned above. We will touch on the genre of each soundtrack, and the reason why it deserves a place on our list.

            Along the way, we will also be highlighting relevant playlists within our catalogue, just in case you're in need of production music tracks to soundtrack your latest production – whether that be a 90s inspired film, TV show, podcast or advertisement.

            Anyway, enough talk of our catalogue, let's get on with presenting you with our list of best 90s soundtracks.

            Best Soundtracks of the 90s

            • Pretty Woman (1990)
            • Until The End of the Wolrd (1991)
            • Wayne's World (1992)
            • Singles (1992)
            • Malcom X (1992)
            • The Bodyguard (1992)
            • The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
            • The Lion King (1994)
            • Pulp Fiction (1994)

            Pretty Woman (1990)

            The Pretty Woman album kickstarts our list of best 90s soundtracks, and for good reason – it encapsulates the musical identity of the year 1990.

            The soundtrack explores the audience’s relationship with the familiar sounds of 80s pop/rock music and the new sounds of 90s music, all on one record.

            Explore our selection of the 80s and 90s music right now.

            Until The End of the World (1991)

            Next on our list is the experimental soundtrack to 1991's Until The End of the World.

            The director of the science fiction flick, Wim Wenders, had a lot of input when it came to the soundtrack as all but one of the songs was created especially for the film.

            And, because the film was set a few years in the future, Wenders asked the artists involved to create the kind of music they imagined they’d be making a decade down the line.

            Wayne's World (1992)

            In 1992, Penelope Spheeris comedy Wayne's World was released, and with it came one of the best soundtracks of the pre-millennial decade.

            The film – led by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey – follows two twenty-something guys who host a public-access television show.

            Both of the main characters are avid rock fans which explains why the soundtrack consists of rock songs, such as Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

            Are you a rock fan? Make sure you check out our selection of rock sub-genres.

            Singles (1992)

            Grunge was key to the 90s music scene, and the soundtrack to 1992s Singles is well known for popularising the genre.

            In fact, it's viewed as so influential that Rolling Stone included the soundtrack in its list of 50 Greatest Grunge Albums.

            Set in Seattle, Washington, the rom-com soundtrack gave the city a new sound, as shortly after the film was released, the North West city experienced a grunge phenomenon.

            What artists are featured on the soundtrack? None other than Pearl Jam, Mudhoney and Alice in Chains.

            Malcolm X (1992)

            Directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington, every element of 1992s Malcolm X film was destined to be special – but no one quite expected the soundtrack to be as special as it is.

            The Malcolm X album consists of songs by friends of the African-American activist – including Sam Cooke – and songs that capture the experience of being Black in America.

            The Bodyguard (1992)

            The soundtrack to 1992's The Bodyguard is the best-selling soundtrack album of all time, and it's all thanks to one woman – Whitney Houston.

            Some of the R&B soul singer's greatest hits appear on the 13-track album, including I Will Always Love You, Run to You and I Have Nothing – songs which are still played all around the world.

            Why did Houston's songs prove so popular? Well, because everyone's a fan of Whitney, no matter your age, gender or background.

            Looking for some R&B production music? Check out our R&B playlist.

            The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

            In 1993, cinema-goers took a trip inside of the minds of Tim Burton, Henry Selick and Danny Elfman with the release of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

            In case you're not film nerds like us, Elfman is the man behind the film's spooky soundtrack, which features tracks such as This is Halloween, What's This? and Kidnap the Sandy Claws.

            Like the film, The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack combines the worlds of Halloween and Christmas to provide young 90s audiences with a palatable way to embrace the gothic genre.

            For this reason, we feel as though it deserves a place on our list of the best 90s soundtracks.

            The Lion King (1994)

            The soundtrack to Disney's African-set animation The Lion King is one of the best of all time; unsurprisingly, some of the greatest talents in the music industry are behind it – viz. Elton John, Tim Rice and Hans Zimmer.

            The cinematic, multi-award-winning soundtrack is jam-packed with memorable compositions and songs, some of which combine the winning Disney music formula with the unique sounds of Africa. Take Circle of Life, for example.

            Explore our selection of songs dedicated to the continent over in our African playlist.

            Pulp Fiction (1994)

            As mentioned earlier, the 90s was a time in which it was acceptable to be a fan of multiple music genres, which may help explain why the soundtrack to Tarantino's mid-90s flick Pulp Fiction is so diverse.

            The super-listenable soundtrack features an array of songs from different genres – from blue-eyed soul to pop to country – which works well with the film's winding story.

            Music For Movies

            Without music, the movie industry would struggle to retain the attention of its audience – hence, it’s paramount that a producer takes time to consider what type of music is appropriate for their project.

            Here at Audio Network, we’ve got a whole host of playlists for you to explore to help you find the production music for your next project.

            Additionally, we’ve got a slew of movie music articles (just like this one) to help you decipher what kind of soundtrack is most appropriate for you. From best hip hop soundtracks to best classical music in movies and best Disney songs, you can find all of these articles and more, over on our inspiration page.

            Need Music for Your Project?

            At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

            SIGN UP

            This page was last updated 23/05/2024.

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            ELECTRONIC MUSIC GENRES

            ELECTRONIC MUSIC GENRES

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              Electronic music and the electronica genre dates back further than you might think when, in the 1920s and 1930s, the first electronic musical instruments were created, leading to the electro music genre. Subsequent technological developments and techniques (such as editing recorded, natural and industrial sounds, and changing the tape speed and direction) developed in the 1940s and 1950s across Europe, Africa, Asia and America.

              Fast forward to the 1960s and 1970s, when digital computer music began to be developed across the world. As these approaches to electronic music blended with popular genres, such as disco and early hip hop in the 1980s, it led to the emergence of electronic music genres as we know today.

              From that moment on, electronic music has evolved and given birth to a seemingly endless number of genres, plus infinite sub-genres and interpretations of genres. Here, we’re going to attempt to breakdown the main genres and their subgenres. However – as with all creative things – there is an element of subjectivity at play here!

              So what one person would call deep house; another would call tech house. What one person would dub dubstep (sorry, cheap pun); another would name brostep. Depending on where you are in the world, these all have very different interpretations and definitions. For this article, we’re going to stick to the main ones, as we recognise them here at Audio Network HQ in London. So let’s get into it.

              Contents

              • Bass music
                • Bass Music Subgenres
              • Disco
                • Disco sub genres
              • Drum and Bass
                • Drum and Bass sub genres
              • Dubstep
                • Dubstep Subgenres
              • ​EDM
                • EDM Subgenres
                • EDM Artists
              • Garage
                • Garage Sub Genres
              • Jungle
                • Sub genres of jungle
              • Hardcore
                • Hardcore sub genres
              • House
                • House Subgenres
              • Techno
                • Techno Subgenres
              • Trance
                • Trance Subgenres

              Electronic Music Genres

              The main types of electronic music genres are well recognised and largely agreed on. However, this particular type of music evolves and develops as quickly as its technology, so an advance warning: this may become incomplete just months after this post is published (we’ll do our best to keep it updated!).

              We’ll also be taking a pretty UK/US-centric view in this article, whilst referencing as many notable global viewpoints as possible – but a definitive global view on this topic is another long article in itself. For the purpose of this piece, the main electronic music genres are:

              • Bass music
              • Disco
              • Drum and Bass
              • Dubstep
              • EDM
              • Jungle
              • Hardcore
              • House
              • Techno
              • Trance
              • Garage

              Bass Music

              Bass music can be quite hard to define. It is a bit of a catch-all term, used to umbrella a load of sub-genres and interpretations of other genres. For example, bass house, some interpretations of trap and niche interpretations of moombah and garage can sit in this category. But the main ones, in our opinion are below.

              Bass Music Subgenres

              This list could be exhaustive, but again, we’ve stuck to the main ones. Others should arguably be included (UK bass music, moombahton and more) but these two encapsulate the genre best and are less ambiguous, in our humble opinion.

              • Bass House
              • Trap

              Bass House

              This is a far more dancefloor-centered version of house. its origins are debateable but one source traces it to the mid-2010s, when dubstep was declining in popularity and the UKG, house and bassline scenes were on the rise. It’s high energy, bass-heavy (obviously) and designed to get the crowd going.

              Trap

              Now, this one could’ve easily sat under dubstep, or even hip hop (if we had included in this article). We’ve gone for bass music though, as, again, it’s a bit of a hybrid genre. It evolved in the early 2010s out of the dubstep scene, blending with more American-influenced trap hip hop from Atlanta.

              Disco

              Evolving from Philadelphia’s 1960s and 1970s R&B scene, as well as other African-American and Latino music scenes at the time, it was major players such as Stevie Wonder, The O’Jays, Gloria Gaynor and Donna Summer who pioneered this ground-breaking sound, which dominated the 1970s and 1980s. Seriously influential, it’s continued to evolve and is arguably the reason many other genres on this list exist.

              Disco Subgenres

              Some would argue every other genre in this list is a sub-genre of disco, but we’ll be looking at some of the more direct, modern offshoots of this pioneering and classic genre.

              • Electro Disco
              • Nu-Disco
              • Italo/ Euro Disco

              Electro Disco

              Loads of funk and a futuristic vibe, electro disco is strongly influenced by German luminaries Kraftwerk – and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Most, if not all, instrumentation is replaced with synthesisers and other electronic alternatives such as vocoders.

              Nu-disco

              Not to be confused with disco house or French disco, nu-disco appeared in the mid to late 1990s. DJ Harvey and Gerry Rooney get the lion’s share of the credit, as their label Black Cock Records released unofficial edits and remixed funk, rock and disco tracks. Other notable pioneers are Dave Lee (FKA Joey Negro) and Crazy P.

              Italo/ French/ Euro Disco

              It’s probably not fair to lump these all together, but the European disco scene is a thriving one with many components and scenes in it, so we’ll approach the continent as a whole. Emerging in the 1970s and consistently adapting, we’d look to the uplifting takes of Mark Ashley, Irene Cara and Laura Branigan to get a feel for this sound.

              Drum and Bass

              A truly British genre (and a great British export), drum and bass was born as many subcultures collided in the UK underground dance scene – most notably breakbeat and jungle. It stripped elements from the aforementioned genres and has had a thriving scene in the UK – and now globally – for over 25 years. With a seemingly endless number of sub-genres, even the scene itself can’t decide which ones are ‘official’, so we’ve stuck to the ‘main’ ones.

              Drum and Bass Subgenres

              • Tech Drum and Bass
              • Neurofunk
              • Liquid
              • Jump Up
              • Dancefloor Drum and Bass

              Tech Drum and Bass

              With more of an organic sound and feel, tech drum and bass tends to be deeper, with a raw percussive sound that sticks to the core elements of the genre and delivers more of a rolling rhythm. Some of the bigger names are Break, DLR, Konflict and Bad Company.

              Neurofunk

              One of the more extreme and futuristic takes on the genre, Neurofunk has been heavily influenced by trailblazers across Europe and New Zealand. With a robotic edge and plenty of funk (as the name suggests) this could only be listened to in a club – or maybe a fight club. Head to NOISA, Black Sun Empire, State of Mind and, more recently, AKOV to get a feel for it.

              Liquid

              The Liquid sound is centred on more melodic elements and has absorbed many influences, from jazz to an EDM vibe. Look to London Elektricity, Camo & Krooked, Calibre and Netsky for the bigger proponents.

              Jump Up

              Not for the faint-hearted, the jump up sound is one of the more aggressive-sounding; a UK-centric contingent– and a divisive one. DJ Hazard, Taxman, Annix and Macky Gee are a good representation of the jump up vibe.

              Dancefloor

              This is a relatively new sub-genre of drum and bass, and though all drum and bass could be classed as dancefloor, this definition speaks to the sound that doesn’t quite fit into any of the above. The likes of RAM Records and artists including Dimension, Grafix, Metrik, Wilkinson and Sub Focus are your go-tos here.

              Dubstep

              Originating in the UK underground dance music scene in the early 2000s, dubstep took the world by storm over the next 15 years or so. Some say it blew up too quickly, leading to what many felt was a bastardisation of its roots. This is another genre that, due to its relative infancy, tends to provoke arguments about how you define a true subgenre…

              Dubstep Subgenres

              We’ve tried to stick to what we feel are the main subgenres – you will most likely have different names for each of these – but we’ll explain what we mean by each one. We tended to approach dubstep in a more linear fashion, as a technique to break it down, so let’s delve in.

              • Classic
              • Tear Out
              • Brostep
              • Deep
              • Chilled

              Classic

              This is the original dubstep: garage, dub and reggae-influenced with a major focus on the lower end of the frequencies. This emerged in the very early 2000s and was pioneered by the likes of Hatcha, Coki, DMZ, Skream, Benga and N-Type.

              Tear Out

              Far more mid-frequencies and with more of a raucous approach, this was one of the first evolutionary steps of the dubstep sound. Up to this point, there wasn’t as much of a focus on getting the dancefloor rocking, but the likes of Caspa, Rusko, Coki, Emalkay and Doctor P changed that.

              Brostep

              It’s from this point that the dubstep scene started to really fracture and divide. As the sound was exported to the US and producers interpreted it with more of a rock or metal sentiment, many of the original fans felt it was too much of a departure from its roots.

              Others, though, couldn’t get enough of it and it transported the scene to stadiums, festival headline slots and commercial radio. Skrillex, Zomboy, Datsik, Eptic and Flux Pavilion are a good representation of this sound.

              Deep

              This is essentially the modern interpretation of the classic sound that pays homage to those early days. It was this contingent of the scene that opposed the ‘bro’ sound the most. Artists such as J Kenzo, Truth, Kaiju and Kryptic Minds.

              EDM

              Now then, we have a seriously contentious entry on this list. EDM. Standing for Electronic Dance Music. Is it even a genre? Or is it just a catch-all statement abbreviated and overly used to describe specific types of electronic music?

              All of those questions and more have been debated for over a decade now. So, we’re going to just let you know how we’re defining this type of electronic music – purely for the sake of this article. When we reference EDM in this sense, we’re looking to that ‘big room’, stadium or Tomorrowland-festival style house music. Think Guetta, Swedish House Mafia and the like.

              EDM Subgenres

              With the above in mind, it kind of means sub genres here aren’t as relevant, as all EDM is, within this article at least, is that big house sound that dominated the UK and US charts for virtually the whole of the 2010s. With that in mind, we’re going to list a few artists instead, so you get what we’re calling EDM.

              EDM Artists

              • David Guetta
              • Martin Garrix
              • Deadmau5
              • Marshmello
              • Avicii
              • Calvin Harris
              • Steve Aoki

              Garage

              Born at Paradise Garage in 1970s and 1980s New York, garage is often associated with the UK scene, with many Brits unaware of its American roots. Since the 1990s, the UK grew obsessed with the sound and it helped set the foundations for many new subgenres.

              Garage Subgenres

              We wanted to show just how much this genre led to new sounds, so we’ve gone against our criteria for other genres in this article, to illustrate the point.

              • UK Garage
              • Speed Garage
              • 4/4
              • Bassline
              • Grime

              UK Garage

              When you say garage in the UK, this is what most people will think of. The 90s were its heyday. It was a vibe created through the UK underground dance club scene and seemingly nothing could stop it from hitting the mainstream. Artists like M. J. Cole, Artful Dodger, Zed Bias, So Solid Crew, Craig David and Ms Dynamite are major players of this sound.

              Speed Garage & 4X4

              These are the more high-octane takes on the garage sound. By taking 4-to-the-floor New York garage, speeding it up, and combining it with breakbeats, a far more chaotic sound was born. We know, 4x4 and speed garage aren’t technically the same thing, but their origins and sounds are so linked we’ve put them together. Some would even argue 4x4 is an umbrella term for speed garage and our next subgenre. Check out artists like 187 Lockdown, Todd Edwards, Double 99 and Groove Armada.

              Bassline

              For a while this sound was massive in the UK, it then went through a period of becoming almost comical. Now though, the UK bassline scene is thriving. Similar to speed garage in many ways, this takes that 4X4 vibe to new levels of energy. Artists such as DJ Q, Flava D, TS7 and Platnum are a good representations.

              Grime

              This is a seriously contentious subgenre for the garage section. However, if there was no garage, there would certainly be no grime. In fact, most of the pioneering grime vocalists, producers and DJs started out in the garage scene. Grime went on to become a British institution in its own right. If you’re not familiar, listen to the likes of Kano, Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, Skepta, Ghetts and D Double E.

              Jungle

              Jungle is the UK-export that came before drum and bass. It’s far more percussive in approach, it has very strong Caribbean influences and was born out of the Soundsystem Culture in the early 1990s UK underground scene. It’s widely accepted that, without this, you wouldn’t have drum and bass.

              Subgenres of Jungle

              Emerging out of the breakbeat and hardcore scenes of the late 80s in the UK, it’s actually debateable that jungle itself was a sub-genre of those scenes. It’s also largely debateable if jungle really has sub-genres. However, for the purpose of this article, there’s one we’re highlighting.

              • Ragga

              Ragga

              Ragga jungle is the far more reggae-influenced sound within the jungle scene. You’ve got some awesome artists that have been flying this flag for years but some of the more recent ones to know about are Chopstick Dubplate, Krinjah and Congo Natty. The difference between this jungle and the ‘original’ jungle is that is has more completely original productions, whereas the original jungle was heavily reliant on samples.

              Hardcore

              Without question one of the unapologetically intense genres within the universe of electronic music, hardcore is even heavier than its name suggests. There are three sub genres we’re going to look into here, all of which may be a shock to the system if you’ve not heard this particular genre than was a product of many scenes colliding – including techno, metal and rock.

              Hardcore Subgenres

              The three sub genres of hardcore may be hard to differentiate between to the newer listen, but they actually have very unique takes on this in-your-face sound.

              • Gabber
              • Happy Hardcore
              • Hardstyle

              Gabber

              Started in Rotterdam and gaining huge popularity in the Netherlands and north of the UK, gabber first came to fruition in the 1990s. Its never quite broken the mainstream, much to the joy of its most passionate followers, but saw a slight change in perception in the 2010s when tastemaker DJs were flirting with the sound in their sets. Head to artists like Paul Elstak, Out Of Cookies and Renae.

              Happy Hardcore

              Probably one of the most joyous yet intense genres to have ever existed, Happy Hardcore is quite an acquired taste. Also born in the 1990s, this time across multiple European countries on the continent and also from the UK’s breakbeat scene, Happy Hardcore is often argued as the most popular of the hardcore sounds. Check out Force & Styles, Toytown and Sy & Demo.

              Hardstyle

              Largely regarded as the most successful out of this scene, Hardstyle has held a loyal following across Europe ever since its inception in the 1990s. As you’re probably noticing a theme emerging, this was also born in the Netherlands and has been a mainstay in the region ever since, with some of the biggest festivals dedicated to the sound. Notable artists include The Prophet, Technoboy and Tweekacore.

              House

              Debatably the most easily recognised and popular of the genres on this list, house music can be traced back to 1980s at pioneering clubs in Chicago. Since then, the genre has taken on many different forms as different nations and cultures interpreted the sound. Like many others on this list, this genre can seemingly have an endless amount of sub genres depending on where you’re from. So let’s take a look.

              House Subgenres

              As we said, this is a subjective question. We could’ve had a house subgenre list twice this size, however, to keep it more succinct, the below are what we’ve agreed are the main ones. Notable absentees from this include; Balearic, Tropical, Tribal, New Jersey, Latin, Jersey, Italo, French, Dutch and Chicago. We could go on, but let’s get into what we see as the main house genres.

              • Acid House
              • Ambient House
              • Classic House
              • Deep House
              • Electro House
              • Funky House
              • Future House
              • Progressive House
              • Tech House

              Acid House

              Starting in the mid-1980s in Chicago, Acid House was quickly adopted in the UK. Connected by what can only be described as a ‘squelching’ sound the Roland TB-303 synthesizer-sequencer helps to create – as well as the accompanying basslines, this type of house completely exploded in the UK into the late 1980s. Listen to DJ Pierre, Phuture and A Guy Called Gerald.

              Ambient House

              Delivering what it says on the tin, Ambient House is credited to being born by The Orb at the nightclub, Heaven. It first emerged a little after Acid House in the late 1980s. Head to artists including The Orb, The KLF and Bull Drummond.

              Classic House

              Essentially the type of house that stays true to the genre’s roots of the clubbing seen in 1980s Chicago, classic house is less of a sub genre and more of a reference point. You want artists like Marshall Jefferson, Todd Terry, Frankie Knuckles and Kerri Chandler.

              Deep House

              Making use of a deeper aesthetic, muted basslines and allowing more room for the percussion to breathe, deep house started in the 1980s as fusion between Chicago House, jazz-funk and elements of soul. Listen to Miguel Migs, Kaskade, Lisa Shaw, Saison and Sebb Junior.

              Electro House

              A far more commercial sound, the electro house style can be very varied (some would argue many we’ve put in “EDM” are in fact electro house artists). It first emerged late 1990s and it arguably reached a peak in popularity in the 2010s. Head to people such as Daft Punk, Bloody Beetroots, Basement Jaxx and Feed Me.

              Funky House

              Blending the worlds of funk, disco and house, with influences from across many decades dating back to the 1970s, funky house is another subgenre that lives up to its name. Record labels such as Defected Records, Ministry of Sound and Hed Kandi will give you a good idea of this sound, including artists such as Dave Lee, Dennis Ferrer, Armand Van Helden and Shapeshifters.

              Future House

              Emerging in the 2010s, Future House blends elements of UK Garage and deep house. It’s a bass-driven, as opposed to melodically or funk driven subgenre and very popular in the UK. Lucky Luke, Nu Aspect, The Him and Tchami will give you a good idea of this scene.

              Progressive House

              Emerging in the early 1990s, the progressive style is largely credited with being produced from the developing UK scene. Long, drawn out build ups and plenty of melody can be found within this sound. Made particularly popular by the likes of Martin Garrix, Swedish House Mafia and Deadmau5 in the early 2010s. Artists include Tiesto, Hardwell, Deadmau5 and Cid Inc.

              Tech House

              Blending the worlds of techno and progressive house, tech house features more rough basslines and hard hitting beats mixed with melodics and groove to create a pretty unique and hugely popular sound. Kicking off in the mid to late 1990s you want to check out the likes of Jamie Jones, Carl Cox, Hot Since 82 and  Patrick Topping.

              Techno

              Dating back to 1970s Europe, with some of its main influences including Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream and C.J. Bolland, techno has spawned many subgenres since then. From the more experimental, ethereal and melodic to the dancefloor-catered, bass-heavy and industrial cuts, techno is a great genre to explore so let’s get into it.

              Techno Subgenres

              The spectrum of techno is one of the most diverse in this list, and many producers from the different genres in this list, such as drum and bass, directly reference techno as an influence on their production approaches. Just as a quick caveat, many think you could include genres such as hardcore, trance and tech house in this list below as the genre directly influenced them, however, we’ve tried to keep to the main subgenres – rather than the other genres this one inspired.

              • Minimal
              • Ambient
              • Industrial
              • IDM
              • Detroit
              • Trance
              • Deep Techno

              Minimal

              It is what it says on the tin. It’s stripped back, it’s repetitive and it’s understated. Originating in Detroit in the early 1990s, key artists here include Richie Hawtin, Robert Hood, Ricardo Villalobos and Jeff Mills.

              Ambient

              Sometimes known as intelligent techno, ambient techno has bundles of atmosphere and rhythm. This genre is seen as being very close to tech house and if you’re looking for a taster you should check out Aphex Twin, Autechre, Orbital, The Black Dog and Laurel Halo.

              Industrial

              Sitting at the heavier and darker end of the techno scale, industrial techno originates from the 1990s and can be the style gets the biggest reaction in the rave. Artists here to go to are Adam X, Orphx, Blawan, Karenn and Ancient Methods.

              IDM

              Intelligent Dance Music dates back to the early 1990s and is less catered to dancefloors and more suited to lounges and home chilling. Many artists that are maybe closer aligned to other sub-genres on this list will also create IDM. However, some key players of this genre include The Future Sound Of London, Luke Vibert, Squarepusher, Ventian Snares and Boards of Canada.

              Detroit

              This is essentially the source. Detroit techno is the original, easy-to-recognise techno from the 1980s, pioneered by the “Belleville Three” – Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunserson and Derrick May. Other artists to head to are Carl Craig, Aril Brikha and Fabrice Lig.

              Deep Techno

              This is a wide sub genre in itself, with many crossover elements from IDM, ambient and minimal techno. The main difference here is deep techno is far more dancefloor orientated than the others mentioned above. Listen to Jamie Jones, Aril Brikha, Joris Voorn, Solomun and Maceo Plex.

              Trance

              Originating in the 1990s as an offshoot from German techno and British hardcore scenes, the trance sound is another that emulates the connotations of its name. Long, drawn out build ups, bags of atmosphere and euphoric builds are a common theme in this genre.

              Trance Subgenres

              There are five key subgenres to the trance sound that we’re going to stick to. Others that you may have expected to see on here would be deep, acid and euro. We’ve deliberately left these out as we see these five as the core ones, with the others having a lot of crossover.

              • Goa
              • Hard
              • Progressive
              • Psychedelic
              • Tech

              Goa

              India, and Goa in particular, have one of the most thriving trance scenes in the world. Their beach parties, all day raves and festivals are becoming something of an iconic centre for the genre for many. Fairly similar sounding to minimal techno in many cases, as well as borrowing many elements from psychedelic trance, head to the likes of Astral Projection, Hallucinogen, Infected Mushroom and Hux Flux.

              Hard

              Originating in Western Europe, the hard trance scene emerged in the early 1990s as a breakaway from the breakbeat and hardcore scenes. Having similarities with the industrial techno sound, artists such as Scot Project, Cosmic Gate, Kai Tracid and, arguably most famously, Scooter.

              Progressive

              This is quite a hard one to define, but it definitely exists in the minds of the people most engaged with the trance scene. Sometimes it can be called uplifting but, seeing as most trance is progressive in nature, it can sometimes be difficult to categorise. By the early 2000s this sound was everywhere and dominated the dancefloors. Artists include Tiesto, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Faithless and Sasha.

              Psychedelic

              Otherwise known as psytrance or psy, psychedelic trance comes in many different forms but all offer up a high-energy, high-tempo and , as the name suggests, a psychedelic atmosphere. Psychedelic preceded the Goa style and is often the type of trance you immediately think of when you hear the term. There is some crossover here but check out Astrix, Infected Mushroom, Shpongle, 1200 Micrograms and Talamasca for a feel for this genre.

              Tech

              Also known as techno-trance, tech trance draws from, as you might have guessed, the techno scene. Pioneered by Oliver Lieb, along with a few other producers in the European scene, the sound is a little more complex, technical and is driven by impactful kick drums. It’s a real party-catered sound which is led by Marco V, Sander van Doorn, Simon Patterson, W&W and Mark Sherry, to name a few.

              So these – more or less! – are the mainstays in the UK, US and Europe which simply couldn’t be missed. Think you’d call something here by a different name? We’d love to hear it on socials!

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              This page was last updated 12/03/2024.

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              BEST ACTION MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS: THE DEFINITIVE LIST

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                To thoroughly enjoy an action movie, you have to believe in the (sometimes outrageous) narrative that’s playing out, and one of the best ways to get the audience onside is through action movie music.

                Music can trick viewers into believing a character’s stakes are their own; this way, they live the experience of every car chase, every boobytrap and every confrontation the protagonist faces.

                Naturally, the type of music in action movies tends to be rip-roaring, gripping and high-octane.

                We have thousands of music tracks suitable for action movies in our ever-expanding catalogue, no matter where or when your film is set – just look at our Action Playlist.

                To inspire you to embrace music for your action project, we’ve created a list of the best action-movie soundtracks in film history – featuring the likes of The Mummy, Casino Royale and Mulan.

                Best Action Movie Soundtracks

                Enter the Dragon (1973)

                The first action movie soundtrack to make it to our list comes from the early 70s kung-fu classic, Enter the Dragon.

                The flick is led by martial arts legend Bruce Lee and Argentine-American composer Lalo Schifrin – a combination that proves to be a match made in heaven. We love how Schifrin adds oriental elements to the classic action soundtrack to create something fresh, yet familiar.

                Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

                Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas’ Raiders of the Lost Ark is a flick that incorporates every single one of the elements you crave in an action film – including an unforgettable John Williams soundtrack.

                The music that accompanies the Indiana Jones’ adventure is filled with so much character that the music is instantly recognizable – even to someone who hasn’t actually seen the film.

                If that isn’t movie soundtrack gold, we don’t know what is…

                Top Gun (1986)

                Top Gun contains many memorable movie moments, many of which are soundtracked by a stellar selection of pieces by Harold Faltermeyer.

                One of our favourite tracks plays near the end of the film, with the iconic line: ‘You can be my wingman anytime.’ The music that accompanies it sums up the mid-80s zeitgeist – it’s those hazy electric guitars…

                Total Recall (1990)

                Total Recall has got to be one of the most underrated 90s action films in existence – and it doesn't help that the Colin Farrell-led reboot was such a flop.

                But if you know, you know, as this sci-fi action-adventure is bucketloads of fun. One of the prime reasons we have such an affinity for the film is because of its supercharged soundtrack.

                Listen and learn, because that’s how you pull an audience into the action.

                Casino Royale (2006)

                Daniel Craig’s first outing as super spy 007 is magnificent; and one of the key reasons why Casino Royale proved so enjoyable is because of its elite-level soundtrack.

                David Arnold’s selection of action movie songs introduces a new type of Bond – one that’s a little more rugged, a little less silly and embraces powerful females – which is reflected in compositions that are more unpredictable than ever before in the franchise.

                Inception (2010)

                During the four year gap between The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer teamed up to create Inception.

                The German composer supported Nolan’s labyrinthine narrative by creating a soundtrack that constantly reminds the audience to pay close attention.

                How? Masterful use of daunting strings and demanding percussion.

                Bad Boys For Life (2020)

                Bad Boys For Life surprised cinema-goers and critics alike with its refreshing plot, developed characters and expertly crafted soundtrack.

                Improving on the original films, the third film in the franchise embraces its Miami setting by adding some choice urban percussive ingredients to the mix.

                Music For Action Movies

                Now that you’ve worked your way through our list of the best action movie soundtracks, you’re hopefully feeling a little more inspired to ensure music is a top priority when putting together your action film.

                We have music for any kind of film, no matter the genre. Check out our roster of music suitable for a variety of film styles, from historical to horror to rom-com and vintage.

                Need Music for Your Project?

                At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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                This page was last updated on 07/03/2024 and 23/05/2024.

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                WHAT IS INDIE MUSIC

                WHAT IS INDIE MUSIC?

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                  What's indie music? What is the history of indie music? What's an indie artist? The Indie genre as a whole can seem pretty ambiguous, as everyone seems to interpret it differently. This is partly because of its multitude of subgenres (something we’ll get into later); and the fact it continues to evolve…

                  But we can all agree that there’s often a certain off-kilter edge in the sound, and that it contains sonic elements of the independent spirit of the original artists of the post-punk era. In the DIY punk spirit, artists bypassed the major record labels to release music on their own terms, got creative with their marketing by making their own cover art, launched their own labels and clubs, and generally marked themselves out by their can-do attitude? Why? To get their sound out there without big marketing budgets.

                  Nowadays, indie music is a kind of catch-all term for a conglomeration of sounds, looks and attitudes that have splintered off from its original pioneers. Let’s look back to its origins, almost fifty years ago in the late 70s.

                  What Is the History of Indie Music?

                  So although indie music once came from the originally independent labels, it now overlaps a huge number of genres, from indie-rock to indie-folk to indie-pop, but all share a certain off-kilter sensibility.

                  Speaking of indie music, if you’re intrigued by the genre and perhaps have an offbeat project to bring to life with a cool soundtrack, we have hundreds of indie tracks for you to sample, download and use in our catalogue. Start exploring our indie discovery page and our indie playlist once you’ve galloped through the history below.

                  Contents:

                  • What is indie music genre? Indie music definition
                  • The Scene
                  • Album Art and other stuff…
                  • Great Indie Bands
                    • The Buzzcocks
                    • Joy Division
                    • New Order
                    • The Smiths
                    • The Fall
                    • The Strokes
                    • Arctic Monkeys
                    • Florence + The Machine
                  • New Indie Music
                  • Indie music for your next project

                  What is Indie Music?

                  So, ‘indie’ is short for independent, a term first used to describe artists who recorded and released records themselves, rather than through a label. But the term now stretches far beyond the original definition. These days, many indie music artists are signed to major labels, and the genre is more descriptive an attitude, a sound, or an alternative way of making music (which, confusingly, can often serious commercial successes anyway). Nowadays, indie music is rarely ‘indie’ in the original sense!

                  Its roots stretch back to the 70s and the DIY punk ethic. In the 1970s, artists who pushed the boundaries of the accepted pop sound weren’t signed to major record labels, as their maverick approach wasn’t deemed commercial enough.

                  Music lovers found this boundary-pushing a refreshing antidote to the contrived pop and rock pushed by big record labels. Today, indie music retains elements of its roots – although the jury’s still out on how to define it!

                  Inspired? To discover great new indie music to license for your projects, take a look at our Indie Top 40.

                  The Scene

                  Pre-social media, bands had to get out and create a following IRL Some music venues have attained legendary status as they were such were an essential part of fledgling indie bands’ success, including:

                  The Hacienda

                  The Manchester club feted during the Acid House and early Rave era was originally a rock club. Founded by Factory Records and the band New Order in 1982, it hosted early gigs by the likes of The Smiths and Echo And The Bunnymen.

                  Later, a host of others including Blur, Placebo and Supergrass gigged there before it finally shuttered in 1997. And perhaps in a wry comment of the increasingly commercialised nature of indie music, the building was demolished in 2002 to make way for… The Haçienda Apartments.

                  King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow

                  This legendary Glasgow venue is now marked in history as the place Alan McGee first saw Oasis play in 1993, leading the Creation label boss to sign the Manchester band on the spot. Founded in 1990, it has played host to Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers, The Verve, Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Muse, Elbow, The Killers and many more.

                  The 100 Club, London

                  This basement club opened in 1942 but has only operated under its current name since 1964, Its Punk Festival in September 1976 changed everything: the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Buzzcocks, The Jam, The Stranglers and The Damned all performed. Siouxsie And The Banshees made their live debut at the event with Sid Vicious on drums.

                  The 100 Club is one of the few music venues left in the West End and recently IDLES, The Specials, Turin Brakes, Babyshambles and Florence + The Machine have played there.

                  What Else Made it Happen?

                  Two notable indie record labels were Factory Records and Rough Trade, which were behind the success of iconic bands such as Joy Division and The Smiths. Bands also pushed the boundaries of working with what they had – pushing the capabilities of their instruments, creating memorable vinyl cover art (think Joy Division’s iconic Unknown Pleasures album cover), and building up a following through setting up and promoting their own clubs. This DIY route to music stardom gave independent artists a unique sound (broad though it was), that was un-embellished, relatable and – that now overused word – authentic.

                  While we’re on the subject of authentic indie music, if you’re creating a vlog, podcast, TV show, or film, our indie tracks can take your creative project to the next level.

                  Indie Music in America

                  And we can’t write about indie without a nod to the great music that’s emerged from across the pond. A large number of indie bands and artists crossover into rock, chiefly because of their borderline discordant sound and rebel attitude. Indie rock is customarily loud, energetic and led by a charismatic frontman or woman. Compared to classic US rock, indie sounds a little more homemade and is often lyrically more experimental – think Nirvana, Pixies and Jane’s Addiction.

                  All-Time Great Indie Artists and Bands

                  The Buzzcocks

                  The Bolton-based band are often credited with inventing indie. The band was formed solely to support the Sex Pistols, at a time when you could buy a guitar in Woolworths (the retro, high-street equivalent of Amazon – now sadly defunct). The band’s timely punk-rock sound, gritty, nonchalant aesthetic and independent status (they created their own record label) helped their debut EP, Spiral Scratch, reach the Top 40 in 1977.

                  Joy Division

                  To die-hard indie fans and music aficionados alike, Joy Division are deities. Their ultra-experimental producer, Martin Hannett, played a key role in their groundbreaking sound. The four-piece band – formed in Salford, Manchester during the post-punk era, split after singer Ian Curtis committed suicide in 1980.

                  New Order

                  Following the demise of Joy Division, founder members Peter Hook, Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris were joined by Gillian Gilbert to form New Order. They fused post-punk with electronic and dance music and became the flagship band for Manchester indie label Factory Records. Their 1983 hit, ‘Blue Monday’ became the best-selling 12-inch single of all time.

                  The Smiths

                  The Smiths were one of the most important indie bands to emerge in the early 80s, formed by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, who bonded over their love of poetry and literature. Their jangly guitar, bass and drum sound was a conscious reaction to the prevalent synth-pop of the time. In 2012, all four Smiths albums – and a compilation album – appeared in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

                  The Fall

                  Cult post-punk band The Fall formed in Manchester in 1976. With their abrasive, guitar-led sound and the caustic lyrics of frontman Mark E Smith, they maintained a fierce, longstanding cult following, despite never really achieving mainstream success. By far the most prolific band of the post-punk movement, they were famously championed by BBC DJ John Peel, who notably commented that they were: ‘always different, always the same…’ The death of their charismatic frontman in 2018 closed a chapter on one of the greatest indie bands ever.

                  The Strokes

                  One of the leading bands of the early 2000s, indie became the genre du jour thanks to The Strokes. The Grammy-award winning band released their debut album Is This It in 2001. This time around, the indie sound was super-commercial: they won a BRIT for Best International Breakthrough Act in 2002 and an NME award for Best Band in the World – twice.

                  Arctic Monkeys

                  Even if you’re not the biggest fan of indie music, you can admire the impact of Sheffield’s Arctic Monkeys. Fronted by natural-born performer Alex Turner, they’ve sold 20 million records worldwide and won over 42 awards, including seven BRITs and a Mercury Prize. Their 2006 debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s what I’m Not was the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history.

                  Florence + The Machine

                  Florence + The Machine are a contemporary indie brand with a super-charismatic frontwoman, Florence Welch. Formed in London in 2007, three of the band’s four albums reached number one in the UK. Now pretty much a household name, Florence Welch is estimated to be worth $28 million.

                  If you’re looking for production music along the lines of the bands above, find the perfect track using our intelligent search bar, filterable by mood/emotion, instrumentation, production genre and musical style.

                  New Indie Music

                  And the indie music scene is still very much alive, with a raft of recent releases drawing on everything from post-punk to pop and country. Want to hear some contemporary indie? Uproxx’s top 5 Indie albums of 2020 showcases some bangers:

                  1. Fiona Apple – Fetch the Bolt Cutters

                  2. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud

                  3. Yaeji – What We Drew

                  4. Yves Tumor – Gospel for a New Century

                  5. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher

                  Indie Music for Your Next Project

                  Check out our line-up of great indie bands and artists, from the vibrant beats and colourful lyrics of John Vella, lead singer and guitarist of Sydney group Tenderfoot, to Waiting for Smith, aka singer and songwriter Harry Lloyd, widely hailed as one to watch; with his narrative, imaginative songs he’s been compared to David Bowie, George Ezra and Leonard Cohen. And there are plenty more to discover…

                  Want to read more about indie and other music? Head over to our inspiration, expertise and news updates.

                  Need Music for Your Project?

                  At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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                  This page was last updated 07/03/2024.

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                  BEST SELLING ARTISTS OF 2021… A ROUND UP

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                    The end of the year is fast approaching, so who are the best-selling artists of 2021?

                    Who’s broken through and which artists have released new tracks from albums that dropped last year that are still selling by the truckload?

                    Here’s our rundown of 2021’s movers and shakers, from disco to rock, power pop to soul, featuring:

                    Best Selling Artists of 2021

                    • Adele
                    • Olivia Rodrigo
                    • Ed Sheeran
                    • The Weeknd
                    • Lil Nas X
                    • Dua Lipa
                    • David Guetta
                    • The Kid Laroi
                    • Tom Grennan
                    • Ella Henderson
                    • Doja Cat
                    • Little Mix
                    • Joel Corry
                    • Glass Animals
                    • Drake
                    • Taylor Swift
                    • Morgan Wallen

                    2021's Best Selling Artists

                    1. Adele

                    Who else but the queen of the break-up ballad could top our end of year list?

                    In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of months, Adele’s fourth studio album, 30, dropped on the 19th November.

                    She dominated the UK charts with a double No. 1, scoring the highest opening week for an album in 2021 and the biggest first-week sales since Ed Sheeran’s Divide in 2017.

                    Want some more amazing stats? As Adele’s three previous albums all reached No. 1, no other female act has had as many albums all go to No. 1 in the UK. 30’s release has also shot previous albums 19, 21 and 25 back into the charts.

                    The lead single from the album, ‘Easy on Me’, has become Adele’s longest-running chart topper. Plus, it smashed the record for the number of UK streams in a week, with an astonishing 24 million.

                    The previous title holder was ‘7 Rings’ by Ariana Grande, which clocked up 16.9 million listens on its release in January 2019.

                    In the US, 30 became the year’s biggest-selling album after just three days on sale. Adele’s recently announced a Las Vegas concert residency, ‘Weekends with Adele’, spanning January-April next year.

                    The residency will see her following in the iconic footsteps of Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, Britney Spears and Elton John.

                    2. Olivia Rodrigo

                    US singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album, Sour, went straight in at No. 1 on the Official Albums Chart in June, and has clocked up over 320,000 chart sales to date, making it one of the best-selling albums of the year on both sides of the Atlantic.

                    The breakout star has three entries in the year-to-date Top 40 singles. Her two chart-toppers, ‘Drivers License’ and ‘Good 4 U’ have well over two million sales between them, and top five hit, ‘Déjà vu’ is in the Top 30.

                    According to Spotify’s global stats, ‘Drivers License’ was the most-streamed song globally this year, with more than 1.1 billion streams, and Sour was the most-streamed album.

                    3. Ed Sheeran

                    It’s no surprise to see perennial chart-topper Ed in the year’s biggest-selling singles artist list, as ‘Bad Habits’ spent a monster 11 weeks at No. 1 over the summer!

                    Judging by the video, the previously mild-mannered Ed’s bad habits look to be considerably worse than most people’s, as he and a gang of vampiric pals cause havoc in town after dark.

                    4. The Weeknd

                    Spending a fortnight at No. 2 in June was The Weeknd’s 80s-inspired, synth-driven ‘Save Your Tears’, whilst ‘Blinding Lights’ has also been a massive seller.

                    Both tracks are from the Canadian singer’s fourth studio album, After Hours, which was released last year. ‘Save Your Tears’ has benefitted from a second remix, featuring Ariana Grande, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

                    5. Lil Nas X

                    The ‘Old Town Road’ singer and rapper claimed the No. 1 spot for five weeks with ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’.

                    Taken from his debut studio album Montero, released in September, the single has been followed by ‘Sun Goes Down’, ‘Industry Baby’ and ‘That’s What I Want’.

                    The album’s eclectic guest list includes everyone from Doja Cat to Elton John, Megan Thee Stallion to Miley Cyrus.

                    6. Dua Lipa

                    Dua Lipa was triumphant at this year’s BRIT awards, picking up both Best Female Solo Artist and Album of the Year.

                    Four of the singles from Future Nostalgia went to No. 1, and she’s fast becoming one of the biggest female artists around. The album was released over a year ago and has been boosted by the Moonlight Edition, which came out in February.

                    Single ‘Levitating’, featuring DaBaby, peaked at No. 5 on the Official Chart, but comes in at No. 5 in the ‘Most Streamed Songs Globally’ list released by Spotify, and Future Nostalgia rocketed in at No. 2 on the ‘Most Streamed Albums Globally’ for 2021.

                    Not only that, but Dua is the most-streamed UK artist globally, beating Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, One Direction and Queen.

                    The Biggest Streaming Artist of 2021

                    According to Spotify’s stats, between 1st January and 27th November, for a second year in a row, the most-streamed artist is Puerto Rican vocalist Bad Bunny.

                    Having notched up 8.3 billion streams in 2020, he went a whole lot further in 2021, with his songs streaming 9.1 billion times.

                    The rest of the top 5 are made up of Taylor Swift, Drake, Justin Bieber and BTS. However, if you’re just looking at the most-streamed artist in the UK, it’s Drake, followed by Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber and Juice Wrld.

                    Who Else Has Had a Great Year?

                    Tom Grennan features on two of the 40 biggest sellers of 2021 - ‘Little Bit of Love’, which peaked at No. 7, and his duet with Ella Henderson, ‘Let’s Go Home Together’.

                    The singer-songwriter’s first three singles all hit the Top 10.

                    Also doubling up are Joel Corry, with Raye and David Guetta on ‘Bed’, and MNEK on ‘Head & Heart’, together with Doja Cat – ‘Kiss Me More’ and ‘Streets’ both lit up the charts.

                    Is anyone more ubiquitous than David Guetta?

                    The super-producer appears on no fewer than three of the top 40 bestselling singles of the year, joining forces with everyone from the aforementioned Joel Corry and Raye to Galantis and Little Mix (‘Heartbreak Anthem’) and Becky Hill (‘Remember’).

                    Who Are the Big Breakout Artists of 2021?

                    Well, Olivia Rodrigo, obviously, but Australian singer and rapper The Kid Laroi is another artist with two singles in the chart.

                    His first big hit, ‘Without You’, peaked at No. 2 in February.

                    He repeated that chart position with latest single ‘Stay’, with Justin Bieber, both of which appear in the top 20.

                    Want to keep ahead of the viral smashes? Look no further than ‘Heat Waves’ by Oxford indie rockers Glass Animals.

                    It’s been in the top 100 for most of the year and claims the crown for the biggest song by a group or band.

                    The band formed in 2010, and their second album, How to be a Human Being, earned them a spot on the Mercury Prize shortlist in 2017.

                    However, it’s the chorus from ‘Heat Waves’, which has been used by hundreds of thousands of TikTokers to soundtrack their videos about missing someone or something, that’s sent them into the stratosphere.

                    Who Is the Biggest-Selling Artist in the US in 2021?

                    Hits Daily Double were claiming it’ll be Morgan Wallen.

                    His record-breaking Dangerous: The Double Album is projected to finish the year ahead of Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, and was the longest-running No. 1 album of the year (10 consecutive weeks).

                    If he does claim the crown, he’ll be the first country artist since Taylor Swift to end the year with the best-selling album of any genre.

                    Other big hitters Stateside are, as mentioned, Olivia Rodrigo, plus Taylor Swift and Drake.

                    Drake’s sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy, had the biggest opening week of this year and Rolling Stone’s most-streamed artist chart showed that he held onto the No. 1 slot for 36 weeks, racking up over 242 million streams.

                    His top track is ‘Way 2 Sexy’, featuring Future and Young Thug. We take our hats (and probably our shirts off) to anyone taking inspiration from Right Said Fred.

                    Taylor Swift has had three number ones so far, with her 2020 studio album Evermore, and 2021 re-recordings of Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version). Folklore was also the bestselling album in the US in 2020.

                    Want a fun fact? Ms Swift is the first artist in the MRC Data era (going back to 1992) to claim bestselling album of the year an impressive five times.

                    Plus, she’s continuing to make headlines; her new version of ‘All Too Well’ has broken the record for the longest track to top the Billboard Hot 100, deposing ‘American Pie’, which has held the title for the past 50 years!

                    So, that’s our round-up of the best and biggest-selling artists of 2021!

                    For more inside knowledge on everything from the history of rock music to the huge variety of pop genres, and iconic women in hip hop, check out our blog. And for up-to-the-minute playlists and new releases to license, keep an eye on our Discover page.

                    Need Music for Your Project?

                    At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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                    BEST SELLING ALBUMS OF 2020

                    BEST SELLING ALBUMS OF 2020: THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL

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                      What was your favourite album of 2020? And which sold the most units, or got the most streams? It was a crowded field, for sure – according to OfficialCharts.com, a record-breaking 43 albums topped the chart over the year – that’s not far off one a week.

                      And what effect did lockdown have on our music listening and buying habits?

                      According to BPI (the UK’s music industry body), consumption rose for a sixth consecutive year. In 2020, 155 million albums were streamed or bought – up 8.2% compared with 2019. There were 139 billion audio streams in the UK in 2020 (up by over a fifth compared with 2019), and nearly 200 artists were streamed over 100 million times. Streaming now accounts for 80.6% of the UK’s music consumption.

                      The charts, however, are made up of streams and physical sales. After years of the latter declining, in 2020 they boomed again – in fact, for 28 weeks, physical sales accounted for 50% of chart sales of the number one album. Vinyl sales increased by 11.5%, with almost 4.8 million copies bought. CDs account for 10.3% of the UK’s recorded music consumption, with 16 million sales in 2020.

                      And the other effects of the pandemic on music? Obviously, the live music sector was devastated, but BPI flagged that though demand for music fell at the start of the first lockdown, it rebounded and continued to grow throughout the year.

                      Let’s take a look back at the 20 bestselling albums of 2020, from Scottish wunderkind Lewis Capaldi, to ‘heritage acts’ such as Queen and Fleetwood Mac, and even posthumous hits, including Juice WRLD’s Legends Never Die and Pop Smoke’s Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon.

                      Need great music for your projects? Check out our Top 40 for our clients’ current favourites, or our playlists with our new releases.

                      Top 10 Most Sold Albums

                      1. Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent , Lewis Capaldi

                      Singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi’s debut collection topped the Official Album Charts for a second year in a row. Originally released in May 2019, it was the fastest-selling album of the year (outselling all the top 10 combined in the UK and Ireland). He hit a million sales in September 2020. The album logged four weeks at number 1 last year (following a six-week run in 2019).

                      Capaldi’s unbroken 77-week run in the Top 10 is a record for a solo artist. Spotify ranked Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent the most-streamed album of 2020 in the UK.

                      2. Fine Line, Harry Styles

                      Another album bridging two years’ sales is Harry Styles’ second, Fine Line, released in December 2019. Boosted by huge pop-rock hits ‘Watermelon Sugar’, ‘Falling’, ‘Golden’ and the joyous ‘Treat People with Kindness’, the album notched up 293,000 chart sales in 2020.

                      Harry Styles’ album took second place in Spotify’s rankings of the most-streamed albums of 2020, reflecting the fact that pop was the most popular genre of the year – presumably because we yearned for happy music during the pandemic.

                      Fine Line was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2020 Brit Awards and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2021 Grammys, but perhaps its biggest accolade was its spot on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2020.

                      The old-skool Hollywood glamour of the ‘Treat People with Kindness’ video, starring Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, has clocked up over 30 million views since it premiered on 1st January 2021, and we can see why. If you can’t nail the dance routine, join in with the clapping.

                      3. Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa

                      Dua Lipa takes the crown for the UK’s biggest album released in 2020. Her second album was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and spent four weeks at the top of the charts. The Guardian hailed its ‘pristine club-pop’ and loved Lipa’s references to Olivia Newton-John, turn-of-the-millennium Madonna, 1980s INXS and Lily Allen, giving it the number 2 slot on its 50 Best Albums of 2020 list and calling her, ‘one of pop’s most exciting major players: she out Gaga’d Gaga and out Kylie’d Kylie’. The artist told Variety, ‘this album is purely about dancing and having fun and being free and being in love.’

                      Dua Lipa was nominated for six Grammys (including Album of the Year) and won Best Pop Vocal Album, selling 265,000 copies and topping the charts in 15 countries. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), Future Nostalgia was the tenth most successful album of 2020 worldwide, with 3.3 million album-equivalent units sold.

                      Check out Dua Lipa’s video for ‘We’re Good’, which has had over 50 million views (stay tuned for the twist at the end…)

                      4. When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go, Billie Eilish

                      The American singer-songwriter’s debut studio album, which she co-wrote with her brother, Finneas O’Connell, was released in March 2019, after her viral hit, ‘Ocean Eyes’, which was released when she was just 13. Its blend of pop, electropop, avant-pop and art pop was apparently inspired by night terrors and lucid dreaming (hence the cover art) and explores dark themes of mental health and addiction – but there’s more to her than horror.

                      The album’s immediate success made Eilish the youngest female solo star to chart at number 1 in the UK. She’s the youngest artist to do lots of things: write a Bond theme (‘No Time to Die’) and win Album of the Year at the Grammys (stealing that particular crown from Taylor Swift). She’s even the first artist born in the 21st Century to have an American number one.

                      She swept the board at the 2020 Grammys: Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Engineered, Non Classical, whilst monster international hit ‘Bad Guy’ won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Overall, the album is Spotify’s eighth most streamed ever.

                      The blood-spattered video has over a billion views on YouTube, but as Vogue says of its latest cover star: ‘Voice of a generation. Avatar of internet mega-fame. Icon of body positivity. A lot rests on Billie Eilish’s 19-year-old shoulders’. It’s clearly just the beginning.

                      5. Heavy is the Head, Stormzy

                      Released in December 2019 on the artist’s own #Merky label, Heavy is the Head is Stormzy’s second studio album. Featuring collaborations with everyone from Aitch and Burna Boy to H.E.R., Yebba and Ed Sheeran, the album debuted at number 2 and topped the chart on 10th January 2020.

                      NME described it as, ‘a broad-reaching, genre-buckling romp’, while the Observer highlighted that, ‘it is a mark of artistic integrity that Stormzy manages to transcend genre (again), without sacrificing his core griminess, or losing too much in the way of accent, word choice, content or theme.’

                      Stormzy claimed the Official Chart Double in January 2020, as ‘Own It’ ft Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy and Heavy Is The Head both hit number 1; something that no other British rapper has ever achieved. It marked the first of four official chart doubles in 2020, as Eminem, Drake and Ariana Grande also hit double top.

                      ‘Vossi Bop’ had previously become the Glastonbury headliner’s first chart-topping single in the UK – check out the video, which has had over 115 million views to date, and was one of the best of 2019.

                      6. Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, Pop Smoke

                      The UK’s biggest debut album of 2020 was Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon. It debuted in July at number 2, topping the chart 12 weeks later. This made it both the first chart-topping debut of the year, and the first ever posthumous number 1 debut album by a solo artist.

                      Bashar Barakah Jackson, aka Pop Smoke, was a US rapper, singer and songwriter, considered by many to be the face of Brooklyn drill. He released his debut mixtape, Meet the Woo, in July 2019, and his first top 10 US hit was Meet the Woo 2, released in February 2020.

                      Just two weeks later, Pop Smoke was fatally shot during what was believed to be a botched robbery in LA. 50 Cent exec-produced his posthumous debut studio album, which was released in July 2020. It debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, with international top 10 singles including ‘For the Night’ and ‘What You Know Bout Love.’

                      7. No.6 Collaborations Project, Ed Sheeran

                      The Guardian’s four-star review described Ed Sheeran as an ‘affable everyman dabbling in grime, hip-hop, balladry and Latino love songs as he zooms down the middle of the road to world domination.’

                      The songs feature duets with everyone from Cardi B to Camila Cabello, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and Skrillex, Stormzy, J Hus and even Eminem, with the result that the album, ‘sounds not unlike a Top 20 rundown or Spotify’s Hot Hits UK playlist,’ according to the Guardian.

                      Sheeran’s fourth studio album, released on 12th July 2019, was nominated for a Best Pop Vocal Album Grammy. By the end of 2019, it had sold 1.1 million pure (physical and digital) copies worldwide, ranking seventh bestselling album of the year.

                      8. Greatest Hits, Queen

                      2020 was a good year for Queen. Their Greatest Hits – the UK’s bestselling album of all time – became only the third album ever to log over 900 weeks on the chart. Yup, that’s over 17 years. And it appropriately achieved the chart milestone 50 years after Queen’s first gig (when the group were known as Smile), at the City Hall in Truro, Cornwall.

                      Their live album, Live Around the World, also hit number 1 in October, making 2020 the first year since 1994 to have two live albums at the top of the charts.

                      No doubt boosted by Bohemian Rhapsody, the Oscar-winning biopic, featuring ‘Killer Queen’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘We Are The Champions’ and ‘We Will Rock You’, Queen’s Greatest Hits initially peaked in second place on the UK album chart before rising to number 1, where it remained for four weeks.

                      9. Diamonds, Elton John

                      Another greatest hits compilation boosted by a biopic (2019’s Rocket Man), is Elton John’s Diamonds. Spanning 1970-2016, it was originally released in November 2017 to commemorate 50 years of Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin’s professional partnership.

                      In August 2020, the BPI certified Diamonds 2x Platinum for sales of 600,000 units, while in the US, it was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of American for sales of one million units. From ‘Your Song’ and ‘Tiny Dancer’ to ‘I’m Still Standing’ and the Disney classics, ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ and ‘Circle of Life’, Diamonds brings all the landmark hits together.

                      Elton supports artists as varied as Ed Sheeran (who’s signed to his Rocket music management group) and Dua Lipa (who headlined his annual AIDS Foundation pre-Oscars party this year) and is, by his own admission, obsessed by the charts. ‘I’m Still Standing’ seems an appropriate choice.

                      10. 50 Years – Don’t Stop, Fleetwood Mac

                      As you might expect, 50 Years – Don’t Stop, the box set by Fleetwood Mac, originally released in November 2018, marked 50 years since the band’s formation. The three CDs span 1967 to 2013. And what a history: as LouderSound.com says, ‘They began as a British blues boom band, complete with obligatory back-alley album cover shot and a repertoire of amped-up R&B numbers, evolved into a proper early-70s rock band, moved towards a more melodic repertoire, and then turned into a multi-platinum rock-pop soap opera, which they remained as pretty much for three decades, before fading gracefully into stadium nostalgia.’

                      With plenty of remastered tracks and a few live ones, the hits span everything from ‘Albatross’ to ‘Rhiannon’, ‘Little Lies’ to ‘Go Your Own Way’ and ‘The Chain’ on the first collection to explore their entire career, from their early days to their success as one of the most enduring bands in rock history.

                      Need Music for Your Project?

                      At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

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