1970s
1980s
1990s
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Today
100
Although formed in London in 1968, this groups fourth album in 1971 secured their popularity with the song "Stairway to Heaven".
What is Led Zeppelin
100
Raised in New Jersey, this American singer-songwriter's career climaxed with his 1984 album; the title track serving as a bitter commentary on the treatment of Vietnam veterans.
What is Bruce Springsteen
100
This bands sudden success widely popularized alternative rock and is considered the "flagship band" of Generation X.
What is Nirvana
100
Considered the "Princess of Pop", this American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress is the best-selling teenage artist of all time.
What is Britney Spears
100
Born December 13, 1989, this American singer-songwriter is considered one of the leading contemporary recording artists and is best known for narrative songs about her personal life, which have received widespread media coverage.
What is Taylor Swift
200
The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (1977), featured disco songs by this pop music group.
What is Bee Gees
200
The eighth of ten children, this star first made history with his trademark moves during the end of his performance at the Motown 25th Anniversary special (1983).
What is Michael Jackson
200
Referred to as the "Songbird Supreme" by the Guinness World Records, this singer has a five-octave vocal range, power, melismatic style and signature use of the whistle register.
What is Mariah Carey
200
This Canadian rock band formed in 1995 in Hanna, Alberta, Canada is one of the most commercially successful Canadian groups, having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and ranking as the eleventh best-selling music act, and the second best-selling foreign act in the U.S. of the 2000s, behind The Beatles. They have been criticized for the derivative, repetitive and formulaic nature of their music.
What is Nickelback
200
After scoring 50 album cuts, this singer-songwriter got his first single – and first Number One – with Josh Turner's "Your Man." Other chart-topping hits include "Never Wanted Nothing More," for Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker's "Come Back Song," "Drink a Beer," by Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett's "Crash and Burn." Tim McGraw, George Strait, Lee Ann Womack and Alan Jackson have also cut his songs. "If It Hadn't Been for Love," which he wrote for his former band, the SteelDrivers, was also recorded by global superstar Adele for a deluxe edition of her 21 LP.
What is Chris Stapleton
300
This American rock band is the highest-selling American band in U.S. history; with their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) ranking as the best selling album of the 20th century in the U.S.
What is Eagles
300
This American musical duo from Philadelphia achieved their greatest fame from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s with a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues. In total, they had 34 chart hits on the US Billboard Hot 100, seven RIAA platinum albums, and six RIAA gold albums. Because of that chart success, Billboard magazine named them the most successful duo of the rock era, surpassing The Everly Brothers.
What is Hall & Oates
300
On 3 October 1992, this Irish singer-songwriter appeared on Saturday Night Live as a musical guest. She sang an a cappella version of Bob Marley’s "War", intended as a protest against sexual abuse in the Catholic Church—referring to child abuse rather than racism. She then presented a photo of Pope John Paul II to the camera while singing the word "evil", after which she tore the photo into pieces, said "Fight the real enemy", and threw the pieces towards the camera.
What is Sinéad O'Connor
300
Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, the members of this girl group began their musical career as Girl's Tyme, formed in 1990. Despite critical and commercial success, the group was plagued by internal conflict and legal turmoil, as Roberson and Luckett attempted to split from the group's manager Mathew Knowles, citing favoritism.
What is Destiny's Child
300
Born Belcalis Almanzar, this American hip hop recording artist is known for her "no filter attitude" and ability to "make money moves".
What is Cardi B
400
This English model, photographer, and author served as the muse behind some of George Harrison and Eric Clapton's greatest hits.
What is Pattie Boyd
400
Having sold more than 300 million records worldwide, this American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman is recognized as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records and is known for pushing the boundaries of lyrical content in mainstream popular music, as well as visual imagery in music videos and on stage.
What is Madonna
400
This American rock band, sometimes referred to as "the Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band" broke into the mainstream in 1975; however, in the late 1980s and 1990s, the band scored several hits and won numerous awards and embarked on their most extensive concert tours to date.
What is Aerosmith
400
An American hip hop duo formed in 1991, in East Point, Atlanta, Georgia, composed of Atlanta-based rappers André "André 3000" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. The duo achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success in the 1990s and early 2000s, helping to popularize Southern hip hop while developing distinctive personas and experimenting with diverse genres such as funk, psychedelia, techno, and gospel.
What is OutKast
400
Original members of this American pop rock band first came together as Kara's Flowers in 1994, while they were still in high school. The band self-released an album called We Like Digging?, then signed to Reprise Records and released the album The Fourth World in 1997. After the album garnered a tepid response, the band parted ways with the record label and the members attended college.
What is Maroon 5
500
Much of this Northern Irish singer-songwriter's music is structured around the conventions of soul music and R&B. An equal part of his catalogue consists of lengthy, loosely connected, spiritually-inspired musical journeys that show the influence of Celtic tradition, jazz and stream-of-consciousness narrative. The two strains together are sometimes referred to as "Celtic soul".
What is Van Morrison
500
Initially rooted in post-punk, this Irish rock band from Dublin's (formed 1976) musical style has evolved throughout their career, yet has maintained an anthemic sound. Their lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal and sociopolitical themes.
What is U2
500
This American R&B vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies is among the music industry's elite with regard to time spent at number one in Billboard history with 50 cumulative weeks, ranking fourth behind Presley, The Beatles, and Carey. These achievements were enough to earn the group recognition as Billboard magazine's fourth most successful musical group of the 1990s.
What is Boyz II Men
500
Born Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., this American rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, investor, and occasional actor from St. Louis, Missouri embarked on his music career with Midwest hip hop group St. Lunatics, in 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, he began his solo career in the year 2000, with his debut album Country Grammar, of which the title-track was a top ten hit.
What is Nelly
500
This American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist's music has been described as a "melting pot of the country, grunge, hip-hop and R&B and he himself has been described as versatile. His vocal style has been described as laconic. Jon Caramanica of The New York Times described him as "an artist who toes the line between singing and rapping, and hip-hop and spooky electric folk".
What is Post Malone