Top Music Artists from the 1980s

In the 1980s, a new wave of modern rock began taking center stage. Along with this genre, the music scene saw popularity with disco, dance-pop, and electronic dance music. In this decade, many pivotal music artists, including Michael Jackson, Prince, and Phil Collins, rose to the top and created a lasting imprint on the music industry. However, these aren’t the only amazing artists to come out of this decade. This article is going to take a look at the top music artists from the ’80s.

To compile a list, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous sources, including IMDb and billboard.com. Here are 25 of the top musicians from the 80s.

1. Michael Jackson

> Number One Hits: 13
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: 30
Michael Jackson is a name that is synonymous with good music. He was born in 1958 in Gary, Indiana. Fortunately for the music world, he got his start early on with his brother’s group, the Jackson Five, and by the ’80s, he was successful as an independent artist. Jackson’s top songs include “Billie Jean,” “Thriller,” “Rock With You,” and “The Way You Make Me Feel.” While he faced both struggles and scandals in his adult life, he remains one of the world’s greatest prodigies in the music industry.

2. Prince

> Number One Hits: Five
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: 19
The “Purple Rain” singer was born Prince Rogers Nelson in 1958. He carved out a very successful career for himself. Throughout his 41-year career, Prince gifted the world with hits such as “When Doves Cry,” “Kiss,” and “Batdance” from Batman. However successful his career was, Prince’s music was met with concern. In 1985, some of Prince’s music, among several other artists, including Madonna, was the push a group of parents needed to start the Parents Music Resource Center or PMRC. This group advocated for censoring music with obscene language and descriptions. Therefore, the Parental Advisory sticker for music that fit specific criteria was created. Despite the censorship, Prince remains a music legend.

3. Madonna

> Number One Hits: 12
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: 38
Another controversial musician of the 80s was Madonna. She was born in 1958, and although her music pushed the boundaries, she rose to the top to become one of the most successful musicians of the 80s and beyond. Madonna’s top hits include “Like a Virgin,” “Crazy For You,” and “Papa Don’t Preach.” Her thriving career has earned her the title “The Queen of Pop” and won her seven Grammys.

4.U2

> Number One Hits: Two
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Six
U2 was formed in 1976 and consists of band members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr. Throughout several decades, the band has had a very successful career. Their top songs include “With or Without You” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” Human Rights and charity movements are significant to this band, and many of their songs contain calls to action. The members have never shied away from taking a stand and raising awareness on social issues, starting with their song “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” written in the ’80s.

5. Bruce Springsteen

> Number One Hits: Zero
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: 12
Bruce Springsteen began his musical career as the lead guitarist in “The Castiles” in the 60s. Through the next 20 years, Springsteen saw success, but when his song “Born in the U.S.A.” came out, it was a huge hit. More hits include “My Hometown,” “Brilliant Disguise,” and “Dancing in the Dark.” In 2024, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are still scheduled for touring.

6. Run-D.M.C

> Number One Hits: Zero
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: One
Run-D.M.C was an American hip-hop band that formed in 1983. Members included Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell. Run-D.M.C had a significant influence on hip-hop culture. Additionally, they were the first hip-hop group to be shown on MTV. Hits include the cover of “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith along with “It’s Tricky,” “King of Rock,” and “Mary, Mary.”

7. Van Halen

> Number One Hits: One
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Three
Van Halen was formed in 1972 by Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, and Michael Anthony. However, Roth left in 1985 and was replaced by Sammy Hager. Van Halen became popular with their album 1984 and single “Jump.” From there, they had one of the most successful careers throughout the ’80s. A few Van Halen hits include “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “When It’s Love,” and “Panama.”

8. John Mellencamp

> Number One Hits: One
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Ten
John Mellencamp was born in 1951 in Indiana. His music can be described as hometown rock and encompassed small towns in the U.S.A. Mellencamp’s top hits include “Jack & Diane,” “Hurts So Good,” “Small Town,” and “Pink Houses.” While these are a few of his more popular songs, Mellencamp has had 22 songs on the Billboard Charts.

9. Billy Joel

> Number One Hits: Three
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: 13
Billy Joel was born in 1949 in New York City. His talents include singing, composing, songwriting, and playing the piano. One of Joel’s more popular songs is “Piano Man,” which is a nickname that has been given to him. His genre is pop rock, with hits that include “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me” and “We Didn’t Start The Fire.” While Joel hasn’t written anything new since the 90s, he remains popular well into the 21st century.

10. The Police

> Number One Hits: One
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Six
The Police started in 1977 and was a British Rock Band. The band included members Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland. At the start of the band, Henry Padovani was the original guitarist; however, in 1977, he left the band and was replaced by Andy Summers. The Police has had 13 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. These hits include “Every Breath You Take” and “Every Little Thing She Does is Magic.”

11. Phil Collins

> Number One Hits: Seven
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: 14
For Millennials, the name Phil Collins may ignite images of the Disney Movie Tarzan, A soundtrack packed with notable hits from the solo artist. However, before Tarzan, Phil Collins was a successful solo artist in the 80s. Furthermore, before becoming successful on his own, he was the lead singer and drummer for Genesis, a British prog-rock band. A Few of his hits include “Groovy Kind of Love,” “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)” and “Separate Lives.”

12. Guns N’ Roses

> Number One Hits: One
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Six
American hard rock and Guns N’ Roses go hand in hand. The band began in 1985 and included Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagen, and Steven Adler. Guns N’ Roses is one of the top 100 best-selling artists ever and has had 13 songs on the Billboard Top 100. These hits include “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Welcome to the Jungle,” and “Paradise City.”

13. Def Leppard

> Number One Hits: One
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Four
Def Leppard began in 1977 and includes members Joe Elliot, Rick Savage, Rick Allen, Phil Collen, and Vivian Campbell. The band has two diamond-selling albums, Pyromania and Hysteria. Among Def Leppard’s top hits include “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” “Love Bites,” and “Armageddon It.” The band is described as a hair band, hair metal, or glam metal. Their music includes elements of heavy metal, hard rock, and guitar riffs.

14. Janet Jackson

> Number One Hits: Ten
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: 27
Janet Jackson was often seen as simply Michael Jackson’s sister. However, she has created a thriving career. She has a total of 41 songs on the Billboard’s top 100 charts. These top hits include “Together Again,” “Doesn’t Really Matter,” and “That’s the Way Love Goes.” Janet Jackson is still active in her music career. In 2015, she started her own record label, Rhythm Nation. In 2019, Janet Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and won multiple Grammys.

15. George Michael

> Number One Hits: Eight
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: 15
George Michael began his music career with his friend Andrew Ridgeley when they started the band Wham!. Their success began in 1983 with their album “Fantastic.” From there, Wham! gifted the world with amazing singles and hits that include “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Careless Whisper,” and “Everything She Wants.” In 1987, the band broke up, and George Michael continued forging a booming career on his own. He began his solo career with the album “Faith,” which became Diamond. A few of Michael’s solo hits include “Faith,” “Father Figure,” and “One More Try.”

16. Whitney Houston

> Number One Hits: 11
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: 23
One of the best-selling artists of all time was Whitney Houston. Her nickname was “The Voice,” and for a good reason. Her talents and powerful voice made her one of the most influential musical artists in the 20th and 21st centuries. Houston’s top hits include “I Will Always Love You,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” and “How Will I Know.” Although Houston passed away in 2012, she continues to be a significant voice in the music industry.

17. Metallica

> Number One Hits: Zero
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: One
In 1981, the heavy metal band Metallica began and was formed by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. Through the years, the members have consisted of James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, Cliff Burton, Robert Trujillo, Dave Mustaine, Jason Newsted, and Ron McGovney. Currently, the band consists of Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, and Robert Trujillo. Metallica has had a long and successful career with hits like “Until It Sleeps” and “Enter Sandman.”

18. REO Speedwagon

> Number One Hits: Two
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Four
REO Speedwagon was created in 1967. In 1980, the band released the album “Hi Infidelity,” which was highly successful. The album included hits “Don’t Let Him Go,” “Keep on Loving You,” and “Take it on the Run.” The original members of REO Speedwagon include Gary Richrath, Alan Gratzer, Gregg Philbin, Terry Luttrell, and Mike Murphy. The band remains active and includes members Kevin Cronin, Dave Amato, Bruce Hall, Neal Doughty, and Bryan Hitt.

19. Lionel Richie

> Number One Hits: 11
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: 23
Lionel Richie has many talents, including being a singer, songwriter, record producer, and musician. At the start of his career, he was the co-lead singer for the Commodores. This funk band produced hits including “Easy” and “Three Times a Lady.” Once Richie ventured out on his solo career, he saw even more success. In 1982, the duet with Diana Ross, “Endless Love” was written and produced by Richie. It became one of the top 20 singles of all time. Richie’s hits include “Hello” and “All Night Long (All Night).”

20. Bon Jovi

> Number One Hits: Four
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Ten
Bon Jovi began in 1983 with band members Richie Sambora, Alec John Such, Tico Torres, and David Bryan. The hard rock band rose to the music scene’s top with several hits. These include “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and “Bad Medicine.” Bon Jovi was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Furthermore, their most recent album was released in 2020.

21. Talking Heads

> Number One Hits: Zero
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: One
In 1975, the American Rock band Talking Heads was formed. The band included Chris Frantz, David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, and Tina Weymouth. Top hits include “Burning Down the House” and “Take Me to the River.” Talking Head was active from 1974 until 1991. Additionally, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

22. Genesis

> Number One Hits: One
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Seven
Genesis was a British band that began in 1967. The band began with Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Anthony Phillips, and Mike Rutherford. At first, Genesis was a progressive rock band. However, with the addition of Phil Collins, the band saw success in the pop genre. Top hits from Genesis include “That’s All,” “No Son of Mine,” and “Invisible Touch.”

23. R.E.M

> Number One Hits: Zero
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Four
Alternative rock band R.E.M was formed in 1980. The members included Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Stipe, and Mike Mills. Their influence in the alternative rock scene was pivotal for the genre. R.E.M.’s top hits include “Losing My Religion,” “The One I Love,” and “Stand.” The band separated in 2011; however, before this, in 2007, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

24. Motley Crue

> Number One Hits: Zero
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Two
The hard rock band Motley Crue had a successful career throughout the years. Their top-selling albums and singles have made them one of the best bands. Motley Crue was first formed in 1981 and consisted of Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee, Vince Neil, and Mick Mars. Their top hits include “Without You” and “Dr. Feelgood.”

25. Tina Turner

> Number One Hits: One
> Top Ten Billboard Hits: Six
image-subject=Tina Turner
Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock in 1939. Her career can only be described as trailblazing. In the ’80s, Tina Turnery released a solo album, “Private Dancer,” which was the start of her comeback. She won eight Grammys and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, with Ike, and in 2021 alone. Tina Turner’s top hits include “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” and “Better Be Good to Me.” Turner passed away in 2023, leaving a lasting legacy in the music industry behind her. (Read here for the biggest one-hit wonders from the 1980s.)