Every generation has left its mark on the music industry. Examples include the “British Invasion” which many Baby Boomers remember and Nirvana’s grunge rock chords of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” that bring back memories for Gen X.
Millennials also have core music memories, just like the generations before them. By definition, a Millennial is someone who was born between the years 1981 and 1996, according to Pew Research. Music during this time frame varied widely. Older Millenials still remember the grunge and rock phase. Younger Millenials recall the first time they heard Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez. Regardless of exactly when a Millennial was born, several music artists chart the list as the most popular.
From boy bands like the Backstreet Boys and NSync to pop icons like Britany, and Emo groups like My Chemical Romance, music hit a large crossroads for Millennials. This list is, of course, subjective, and only a portion of the artists that Millennials may call popular. It also doesn’t include country music stars. For more reading on that, be sure to check out the all-time favorite country artists of millennials.
To compile this list of millennials’ favorite musicians, 24/7 Tempo reviewed several music and entertainment sources. These include Vice, The New York Times, BET, and Rolling Stone. We also took into consideration Reddit and Quora forums.
Here are 10 of the most popular all-time music artists among millennials:
Backstreet Boys
Who could forget the smooth chords of Nick, AJ, Brian, Kevin, and Howie? This 5-member group broke into fame with their self-titled debut album which was released in 1996. Their second album was released just a year later, and their third album, “Millennium” came out in 1999.
Most Millennials remember hits like “I Want It That Way,” “Everybody,” and “As Long As You Love Me.” While the boy band phase slowly died out into the 2000s, the group is still producing music. In 2022, they released a Christmas album before going on to celebrate their 30th anniversary the following year.
Eminem
Known professionally as Eminem, Marshall Mathers III was one of the most popular hip-hop artists of the late 1990s. His first album was released in 1996, but his real fame began after the release of “The Slim Shady LP” in 1999. This album, along with the follow-up album that was released a year later, earned the artist Grammy nominations for Album of the Year.
Eminem’s most popular songs include “My Name Is,” “The Real Slim Shady,” and “Lose Yourself.” He also went on to collaborate with other artists like Rihanna in “Love the Way You Lie” and Dr. Dre in “Guilty Conscience.” Eminem has continued to produce music over the years, even making an appearance at the halftime show of Super Bowl LVI in 2022.
Rihanna
Older Millennials may not be as familiar with Rihanna, but younger ones recall her rise to fame in the mid-2000s. Hailing from Barbados, Rihanna mixed dance, pop, R&B, and Caribbean influences into her music, creating an iconic sound.
While her first two albums (released in 2005 and 2006) weren’t as popular, her 2007 release of “Good Girl Gone Bad” put Rihanna on the map. The top single from that chart “Umbrella” which featured Jay-Z, earned the singer a Grammy win. It also hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Like Eminem, Rihanna has been given a chance to perform at a Super Bowl halftime show.
Coldplay
Hailing from London, England, Coldplay was just as famous in the United States as they were in the UK. Their sophomore album “Parachutes” was released in 1999 and featured hits like “Yellow” and “Sparks.” It also earned them a Grammy award for Best Alternative Music Album.
Today, Colplay is known for its iconic live performances. The group, made up of Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion continues to tour worldwide. They’ve also continued to write and produce music. Their most recent album “Music of the Spheres” was released in 2021.
NSync
Always competing with Backstreet Boys for hits, NSync was also an incredibly popular boy band that Millennials loved. Comprised of members Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, and Chris Kirkpatrick, NSync instantly rose to fame in the late 90s.
Hot songs from the group include “I Want You Back,” “Tearin’ Up My Heart,” “It’s Gonna Be Me,” and “Bye Bye Bye” among many others. Despite their popularity, the group decided to take a hiatus following a large tour in 2002. Timberlake has gone on to see major success as a solo artist. However, the group continues to tease their fans with the idea of getting back together. They reunited in 2023 to record a song for the most recent “Trolls” movie in which Timberlake stars as one of the character voices.
The Killers
Outside of boy bands and pop singers, alternative rock/punk rock groups became hugely popular during the 2000s. One band, The Killers, will forever be known for their unique sound and catchy songs. The group, which includes lead vocalist Brandon Flowers, lead guitarist Dave Keunig, drummer Ronnie Vannucci Jr, and bassist Mark Stoermer, has released 7 studio albums since their formation in 2001.
Top songs from the group include their smash hit “Mr. Brightside,” along with “Somebody Told Me” and “When You Were Young.” Today, the group continues to tour and record music. Their latest album “Rebel Diamonds” was released in 2023.
Linkin Park
Beginning their rise as a rock band in 1996, Linkin Park soon became known for their unique sound. The group began with a heavy metal sound. However, as the band evolved they continued to include hip-hop, electronic, and pop elements alongside rock.
Their creative mix of music led to a huge rise in fame in the early 2000s. When their album “Hybrid Theory” was released in 2000, it brought us hits like “One Step Closer,” “In the End,” and “Crawling.” It also earned the band a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. Additionally, Linkin Park was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rock Album. The band continued to produce music over the years until their sudden and unfortunate hiatus in 2017 when lead vocalist Chester Bennington passed unexpectedly.
Fall Out Boy
While punk and alternative rock bands were on the rise during the early 2000s, few saw the same level of success as Fall Out Boy. With their release of “From Under the Cork Tree” in 2005, the group hit massive success. Fans remember their iconic songs “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” and “Dance, Dance.” The album also earned them a Grammy Nomination for Best New Artist in 2006.
Following their initial success, the band continued to produce music and tour until their hiatus in 2010. After taking some time away from the music scene, lead vocalist Patrick Stump and bassist Pete Wentz got together to start writing music again. The entire group eventually reconvened and has gone on to release several more albums. Currently, Fall Out Boy is wrapping up the last part of their “So Much For (Tour) Dust” tour.
My Chemical Romance
Similar to other bands listed here, My Chemical Romance was known for its punk rock and emo sound in the early 2000s. Comprised of Gerard Way, Mikey Way, Ray Toro, and Matt Pelissier, the group released their first album in 2002 called “I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love.”
After releasing another album in 2004, the band saw their biggest success from their 2006 album “The Black Parade.” With hits like “Teenagers,” “Welcome to the Black Parade,” and “I’m Not Okay (I Promise),” My Chemical Romance solidified a large following. While the band broke up in 2013, they got back together in 2019. Their reunion was celebrated with a sell-out concert before announcing new music in 2022.
Brittany Spears
Known as the “Princess of Pop,” Britney Spears had a huge influence on the pop music industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Spears, who had gotten her start alongside Justin Timberlake on “The Mickey Mouse Club” at the age of 8, went on to produce hits like “…Baby One More Time,” “Oops!…I Did It Again,” and “Toxic.”
While there has been plenty of scandal around Spears’ personal life, the pop singer has been in the spotlight since her early years. Her first album was also released when Spears was just 15. Today, the musician says she doesn’t plan to return to the music industry. (For more about the generation, click here to see the most popular celebrities among millennials.)