Top 5 New Rock Music Artists of Each Year - 1980-1999
Criteria: Here are the top 5 new rock artists of each year. In order to qualify in a given year the artist has to have had his first ever release in that year (single, EP or album). The artists were ranked based upon initial popularity, lasting popularity, impact and influence of ONLY their records that were released in that calendar year.
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1980
1. SOS Band
2. Zapp
3. Sheena Easton
4. Treacherous Three
5. Stars On 45
2. Zapp
3. Sheena Easton
4. Treacherous Three
5. Stars On 45
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1981
1. Duran Duran
2. REM
3. The Time
4. The Replacements
5. Kim Wilde
2. REM
3. The Time
4. The Replacements
5. Kim Wilde
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1982
1. Culture Club
2. Yaz (aka Yazoo)
3. Jennifer Holliday
4. Kajagoogoo
5. Naked Eyes
2. Yaz (aka Yazoo)
3. Jennifer Holliday
4. Kajagoogoo
5. Naked Eyes
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1983
1. Metallica
2. Run-D.M.C.
3. New Edition
4. Tracey Ullman
5. Corey Hart
2. Run-D.M.C.
3. New Edition
4. Tracey Ullman
5. Corey Hart
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1984
1. Sade
2. Sheila E.
3. Jack Wagner
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers
5. The Art Of Noise
2. Sheila E.
3. Jack Wagner
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers
5. The Art Of Noise
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1985
1. LL Cool J
2. Simply Red
3. Dream Academy
4. The Jets
5. 'Til Tuesday
2. Simply Red
3. Dream Academy
4. The Jets
5. 'Til Tuesday
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1986
1. Bruce Hornsby & The Range
2. Timex Social Club/Club Nouveau
3. Glass Tiger
4. Poison
5. Eric B & Rakim
2. Timex Social Club/Club Nouveau
3. Glass Tiger
4. Poison
5. Eric B & Rakim
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1987
1. Public Enemy
2. Richard Marx
3. Rick Astley
4. Tiffany
5. Debbie Gibson
2. Richard Marx
3. Rick Astley
4. Tiffany
5. Debbie Gibson
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1988
1. Paula Abdul
2. Big Daddy Kane
3. Tracy Chapman
4. Slick Rick
5. Jeff Healey Band
2. Big Daddy Kane
3. Tracy Chapman
4. Slick Rick
5. Jeff Healey Band
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1989
1. Technotronic
2. Vanilla Ice
3. Warrant
4. Nine Inch Nails
5. Skid Row
2. Vanilla Ice
3. Warrant
4. Nine Inch Nails
5. Skid Row
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1990
1. Mariah Carey
2. C&C Music Factory
3. The Black Crowes
4. Wilson Phillips
5. Firehouse
2. C&C Music Factory
3. The Black Crowes
4. Wilson Phillips
5. Firehouse
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1991
1. Pearl Jam
2. Spin Doctors
3. Boyz II Men
4. Color Me Badd
5. Cypress Hill
2. Spin Doctors
3. Boyz II Men
4. Color Me Badd
5. Cypress Hill
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1992
1. TLC
2. Mary J. Blige
3. Rage Against The Machine
4. Blind Melon
5. Kris Kross
2. Mary J. Blige
3. Rage Against The Machine
4. Blind Melon
5. Kris Kross
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1993
1. Counting Crows
2. Snow
3. Collective Soul
4. Liz Phair
5. Tag Team
2. Snow
3. Collective Soul
4. Liz Phair
5. Tag Team
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1994
1. Brandy
2. Bush
3. All-4-One
4. Korn
5. Weezer
2. Bush
3. All-4-One
4. Korn
5. Weezer
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1995
1. Jewel
2. D'Angelo
3. Blessid Union Of Souls
4. Dog's Eye View
5. Jars Of Clay
2. D'Angelo
3. Blessid Union Of Souls
4. Dog's Eye View
5. Jars Of Clay
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1996
1. Matchbox 20
2. Spice Girls
3. Ginuwine
4. Foxy Brown
5. Dru Hill
2. Spice Girls
3. Ginuwine
4. Foxy Brown
5. Dru Hill
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1997
1. Third Eye Blind
2. Days Of The New
3. Godsmack
4. Natalie Imbruglia
5. 98 Degrees
2. Days Of The New
3. Godsmack
4. Natalie Imbruglia
5. 98 Degrees
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1998
1. Train
2. Mya
3. System Of A Down
4. Godspeed You! Black Emperor
5. Tyrese
2. Mya
3. System Of A Down
4. Godspeed You! Black Emperor
5. Tyrese
Top 5 New Rock Artists of 1999
1. Jennifer Lopez
2. Lou Bega
3. Westlife
4. Mandy Moore
5. Tal Bachman
2. Lou Bega
3. Westlife
4. Mandy Moore
5. Tal Bachman
List Compiled and Edited By: Bruce