Throwback: Iconic Music & Artists of the 2010’s

Rihanna– Rihanna was one of the biggest and most successful artists of the 2010s. Her music during the decade mixed pop, R&B, dance, hip-hop, and electronic sounds, and she consistently produced major hits. Some of her biggest 2010s songs were “Only Girl (In the World),” “What’s My Name?” “S&M,” “We Found Love,” “Diamonds,” “Stay,” “Work,” and “Love on the Brain.” Her albums Loud (2010), Talk That Talk (2011), Unapologetic (2012), and ANTI (2016) were all major releases. Each of those four albums produced a #1 Billboard Hot 100 song, showing how consistently popular she was throughout the decade. She was also huge in digital music. In 2015, the RIAA announced that Rihanna became the first artist ever to surpass 100 million cumulative digital song certifications in the U.S. 

Adele– Adele was one of the defining artists of the 2010–2019 music era. Her huge ballads, powerful vocals, and heartbreak-focused songwriting stood out during a decade increasingly dominated by pop, hip-hop, EDM, and streaming. 

Katy Perry– Katy Perry helped define 2010s pop music with colorful music videos, catchy songs, major tours, and huge performances. Her Teenage Dream era especially represents the fun, upbeat pop sound of the early 2010s. Songs like “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” and “Last Friday Night” became some of the most recognizable pop songs of the decade. 

Kesha– Kesha was one of the defining pop artists of the early 2010s, especially during the dance-pop/party-music era. If you’re using her for your 2010–2019 music project, here are the strongest points to include: “Tik Tok” defined the beginning of the decade.Released in 2009 but dominating into 2010, it became one of the signature party-pop songs associated with that era. She was a major part of the early-2010s party-pop sound. Her music was loud, electronic, carefree and made for parties. Think glitter, messy makeup, going out, and not taking yourself too seriously. 

Nicki Minaj– Nicki helped make female rap a major part of mainstream pop culture during the 2010s. She could move between hard rap verses and radio-friendly pop songs, which helped her reach audiences outside traditional hip-hop. Songs like “Super Bass,” “Starships,” and “Anaconda” are especially recognizable examples of the sound and pop culture of the decade.  

Bruno Mars- Bruno Mars became one of the decade’s most reliable hitmakers by blending pop, funk, soul, and R&B with old-school showmanship. He first broke out with “Just the Way You Are,” “Grenade,” and “The Lazy Song” from Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010). His follow-up Unorthodox Jukebox (2012) brought “Locked Out of Heaven” and “When I Was Your Man.” In 2014 he performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, and he also appeared on Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” (2014), which spent 14 weeks at #1 on the Hot 100 and became one of the biggest songs of the decade. His album 24K Magic (2016) won multiple Grammys, including Album of the Year, and its hits included “That’s What I Like.” 

Justin Bieber- Justin Bieber went from a YouTube discovery to one of the biggest pop stars of the 2010s. His early hits, such as “Baby” (2010) and “Somebody to Love,” made him a teen pop phenomenon. In the middle of the decade, he shifted to a more mature, electronic-influenced sound with Purpose (2015), which produced “What Do You Mean?” (his first #1 on the Hot 100), “Sorry,” and “Love Yourself.” He was also a major presence in the streaming era, and he collaborated on the global hit “Despacito” 

Maroon Five- Formed as the band Kara’s flowers in 1994. Maroon 5 was a constant presence on pop radio throughout the 2010s, led by frontman Adam Levine. Their sound blended pop-rock, funk, and dance-pop. Major hits included “Moves Like Jagger” (featuring Christina Aguilera, 2011), “One More Night” (2012), “Payphone,” “Daylight,” “Sugar” (2015), and “Girls Like You” (2018). Adam Levine’s role as a coach on The Voice also kept the band highly visible, and the group performed at the Super Bowl LIII halftime show in 2019. 

Drake- Drake became one of the most dominant forces in hip-hop and pop during the 2010s by mixing rap with melodic, emotional R&B-style hooks. After rising with Thank Me Later (2010) and Take Care (2011), he released Nothing Was the Same (2013), Views (2016), and Scorpion (2018). Songs like “Hotline Bling,” “One Dance,” “God’s Plan,” and “In My Feelings” became culturally iconic songs. “One Dance” and “God’s Plan” were both huge chart-toppers, and he became one of the most streamed artists in the world. 

Kendrick Lamar- Kendrick Lamar was one of the most important rappers of the 2010s. He was known for smart lyrics and storytelling about life, race, and fame. His album good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012) told the story of growing up in Compton. His next album, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), included “Alright,” which became an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2017, his song “HUMBLE.” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, his album DAMN. won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, a huge honor for a rapper. 

TRENDING ALBUMS/RECORD LABEL DURING 2010’s: 

HOW PEOPLE LISTENED TO MUSIC (ipods, mp3, iphones): 

During the 2010s, the way people listened to music changed a lot, mainly moving from downloaded music to streaming. 

• Early 2010s: iPods and MP3 players were still popular. People bought songs from iTunes or downloaded MP3 files and stored them on their devices. 

• iPhones & smartphones: Smartphones quickly became one of the main ways people listened to music because they combined a phone and music player in one device. 

• Headphones & earbuds: Wired earbuds were common early in the decade, while wireless/Bluetooth headphones became much more popular later. 

• Streaming: Services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Pandora made it possible to listen without purchasing and downloading every song. 

• YouTube: YouTube was also a major way people discovered and listened to songs and watched music videos. 

• Late 2010s: Streaming on smartphones became the norm, while dedicated MP3 players and iPods declined. 

TRENDING MUSIC IN MOVIES 2010-2019: 

• Justin Timberlake “can’t stop the feeling” 

TRENDING MUSIC VIDS: