1950s
Read ArticleThe Music Timeline
From rock & roll to streaming – explore the evolution
1951
First Rock & Roll Record
"Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston is widely considered the first rock & roll record
Rock & Roll1954
Rock Around the Clock
Bill Haley & His Comets spark the rock craze with "Rock Around the Clock"
Rock & Roll1954
Elvis Signs with Sun
Elvis Presley signs with Sun Records, beginning his legendary career
Rock & Roll1955
Elvis Signs with RCA
Elvis Presley signs with RCA Records for $40,000
Rock & Roll1955
Maybellene
Chuck Berry releases "Maybellene," pioneering rock guitar
Rock & Roll1956
Fender Stratocaster
The most influential electric guitar is released, changing music forever
Innovation1956
Heartbreak Hotel
Elvis Presley's first #1 single, defining the rock & roll sound
Rock & Roll1956
Tutti Frutti
Little Richard releases "Tutti Frutti," a rock & roll anthem
Rock & Roll1957
Buddy Holly Signs
Buddy Holly signs with Brunswick, innovates rock production
Rock & Roll1959
Kind of Blue
Miles Davis releases jazz masterpiece, best-selling jazz album ever
Jazz1960s
Read Article1963
The Beatles Land in America
Beatlemania hits America with Ed Sullivan Show appearance
Rock1964
British Invasion Begins
British acts dominate US charts, transforming music industry
Rock1964
A Love Supreme
John Coltrane releases spiritual jazz masterpiece
Jazz1964
The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan establishes himself as voice of a generation
Folk1965
Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan releases masterpiece with "Like a Rolling Stone"
Folk Rock1966
Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys release revolutionary album
Rock1967
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles release psychedelic masterpiece, most influential album ever
Psychedelic Rock1967
Summer of Love
Flower Power movement defines 1967 in San Francisco
Cultural1969
Woodstock Festival
Defining moment for 60s counterculture and music festivals
Rock1969
Abbey Road
The Beatles' final recording session, legendary album
Rock1970s
Read Article1970
James Brown: Sex Machine
James Brown defines funk with "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine"
Funk1971
What's Going On
Marvin Gaye releases influential concept album
Soul1971
Blue
Joni Mitchell releases masterpiece of confessional songwriting
Folk1973
Hip-Hop Begins
Kool Herc hosts first hip-hop party on August 11, 1973 in Bronx
Hip-Hop1973
The Dark Side of the Moon
Pink Floyd releases concept album masterpiece
Progressive Rock1975
MIDI Protocol Invented
Digital music communication standard revolutionizes production
Innovation1975
Rumours
Fleetwood Mac releases defining album of era
Rock1976
Songs in the Key of Life
Stevie Wonder releases career-defining masterpiece
Soul1977
Punk Rock Revolution
Sex Pistols spark UK punk movement with "Anarchy in the UK"
Punk1979
Off the Wall
Michael Jackson's breakthrough solo album
Pop1980s
Read Article1980
Back in Black
AC/DC releases best-selling hard rock album
Hard Rock1981
MTV Launches
Music television revolutionizes music consumption
Media1982
Thriller
Michael Jackson's masterpiece, best-selling album ever
Pop1982
Madonna Begins
Madonna begins her career with "Everybody"
Pop1983
Michael Jackson on MTV
"Billie Jean" premiere launches MTV era
Pop1984
Purple Rain
Prince releases iconic soundtrack album
Pop1985
Live Aid Concert
Global benefit concert raises awareness for famine in Africa
Rock1986
The Joshua Tree
U2 releases defining album of decade
Rock1987
Bad
Michael Jackson releases album with 7 #1 singles
Pop1989
Like a Prayer
Madonna pushes pop and music video boundaries
Pop1990s
Read Article1990
Nirvana Forms
Kurt Cobain forms Nirvana, sparking grunge movement
Grunge1991
Nevermind
Nirvana releases album that changes music industry
Grunge1992
The Chronic
Dr. Dre releases defining West Coast hip-hop album
Hip-Hop1992
Janet.
Janet Jackson releases sexually explicit album
Pop1994
"Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Nirvana's anthem defines Generation X
Grunge1995
Jagged Little Pill
Alanis Morissette releases defining album of female artists
Alternative1997
Radiohead's OK Computer
Radiohead releases landmark alternative album
Alternative1997
Tupac Shakur Dies
Tupac's death intensifies East Coast-West Coast rivalry
Hip-Hop1998
Supernatural
Santana's comeback album dominates charts
Rock1999
Napster Launches
P2P sharing revolutionizes music distribution
Technology2000s
Read Article2000
Kid A
Radiohead releases experimental album
Alternative2001
iPod & iTunes
Apple revolutionizes portable music consumption
Technology2001
Discovery
Daft Punk releases influential electronic album
Electronic2002
The Eminem Show
Eminem dominates hip-hop with controversial album
Hip-Hop2003
MySpace Launches
Social media becomes platform for music discovery
Technology2003
Get Rich or Die Tryin'
50 Cent releases blockbuster debut
Hip-Hop2004
iTunes Store
Legal digital music purchasing transforms industry
Technology2004
Confessions
Usher's album defines R&B era
R&B2007
Auto-Tune Mainstream
T-Pain and Kanye West popularize effect
Innovation2009
Michael Jackson Dies
King of Pop dies, memorial concerts worldwide
Cultural2010s
Read Article2010
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire wins Grammy, indie goes mainstream
Indie Rock2011
Spotify Launches
Streaming becomes dominant music consumption method
Technology2012
Random Access Memories
Daft Punk bridges electronic and live performance
Electronic2012
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
Kendrick Lamar releases breakthrough album
Hip-Hop2014
Streaming Exceeds Sales
For first time, streaming revenue surpasses physical
Technology2014
To Pimp a Butterfly
Kendrick Lamar releases politically charged masterpiece
Hip-Hop2014
Taylor Swift: 1989
Taylor Swift transitions to pop with massive success
Pop2016
Lemonade
Beyoncé releases visual album addressing race
R&B2017
Kendrick Lamar's Pulitzer
"DAMN." wins Pulitzer, hip-hop enters institution
Hip-Hop2019
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
Billie Eilish releases debut album
Pop