Top 100 Artists of the 80’s

These are the top 100 artists of the 1980s. This list was compiled using several sources including chart rankings, music video rotation, radio airplay, genre influence, and cultural influence to name a few.

Below each artist’s name are links to the year/s they entered the charts during the 80’s.

You can find more 80s content at the bottom of this page including these TOP40Weekly Tribute collections; Romantic Sax, Piano By Candlelight, 25 Great Love Songs, 40 Best of the ’80s.

Top 100 Artists of the 80’s

1

Michael Jackson in the 1980s

Michael Jackson

1980 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

2

Image of Prince with sunglasses from the 80s

1980 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

3

Image of Madonna with pink hair from the 1980s

1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1989

4

U2 band photo

1987 | 1988 | 1989

5

Bruce Springsteen playing guitar on stage circa 1980s

Bruce Springsteen

1980 | 1981 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988

6

80's rap group Run DMC

Run-D.M.C.

7

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1982 | 1984 | 1986 | 1988 | 1989

8

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9

Billy Joel we didn't start the fire record cover

Billy Joel

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1989

10

Police every breath you take record cover

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1986

11

Phil Collins One More Night record cover

1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1988 | 1989

12

Guns and Roses Sweet Child of Mine record cover

Guns N’ Roses

13

80's band Def Leppard posing - circa 1988

Def Leppard

1983 | 1984 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

14

Janet Jackson When I Think of You I Am record cover

Janet Jackson

1986 | 1987 | 1989

15

Wham! Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go record cover

George Michael / Wham

1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988

16

Whitney Houston circa 1985

Whitney Houston

1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

17

Metallica posing circa 1989

18

80's rap group N.W.A. circa 1980's

19

Dire Straits Money For Nothing record cover

Dire Straits

1980 | 1983 | 1985 | 1986

20

AC/DC Back in Black record cover

21

80's band Rush circa 1980's

Rush

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1985 | 1986

22

Iron Maiden record cover

23

80's band Judas Priest posing - circa 1980's

Judas Priest

24

Lionel Richie Truly record cover

Lionel Richie

1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987

25

Bon Jovi Living on a Prayer record cover

1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

26

80's band Talking Heads posing circa 1980's

1983 | 1985 | 1986

27

Genesis promo photo from 1980's

Genesis

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1986 | 1987

28

The Best of R.E.M. record cover

1983 | 1984 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

29

Duran Duran record cover

1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

30

Motley Crue Too Young To Fall in Love record cover

1984 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989

31

The Cure circa 1980's

1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

32

The Journey circa 1978

Journey

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987

33

John Mellencamp circa 1980's

John Mellencamp

34

Grand Master Flash and The Furious Five circa 1980's

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

35

Reo Speedwagon Can't Fight This Feeling record cover

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1984 | 1985 | 1987 | 1988

36

Kool and The Gang 1980's record cover

Kool and the Gang

1980 | 1981 | 1982

37

L.L. Cool J promo picture circa 1988

L.L. Cool J

1987 | 1988 | 1989

38

Tina Turner on stage circa 1987

1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1989

39

Queen Another One Bites The Dust record cover

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1989

40

The Beastie Boys posing at the 1987 Grammy Awards

1986 | 1987 | 1989

41

Ozzy Osbourne circa 1980's

42

The Smiths The Queen is Dead record cover 1986

The Smiths

43

Huey Lewis and the News The Power of Love record cover 1985

Huey Lewis and the News

44

Bryan Adams Heaven record cover

1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987

45

Daryl Hall and John Oates Kiss on My List record cover

Hall & Oates

1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1988

46

Pat Benatar circa 1980's

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1988

47

80's rap duo Eric B. and Rakim circa 1980's

Eric B. & Rakim

48

Billy Idol Mony Mony Live Chrysalis record cover

1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988

49

Peter Gabriel promo image circa 1980's

Peter Gabriel

1980 | 1982 | 1983 | 1986 | 1987 | 1989

50

INXS Need You Tonight record cover 1987

INXS

1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988

51

80's rock band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers promo image

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

1983 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987

52

Stevie Ray Vaughan and The Double Trouble circa 1980's

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

53

Eurythmics promo image circa 1980's

1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

54

The Cars Band circa 1980's

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988

55

Aerosmith Dude record cover 1987

Aerosmith

1980 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

56

ZZ Top Live Nationwide record cover

1980 | 1981 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986

57

The Rolling Stones World Tour 1982

The Rolling Stones

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984

58

Heart Alone Capitol record cover

Heart

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987

59

David Bowie Fame record cover

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987

60

Elton John promo image circa 1980's

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

61

Rod Stewart promo image circa 1980's

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

62

Foreigner I Want to Know What Love Is record cover 1984

Foreigner

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1984 | 1985 | 1987 | 1988

63

Stevie Wonder Greatest Hits record cover 1985

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1984 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988

64

Toto Africa record cover

1980 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988

65

Bob Seger promo image circa 1980's

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987

66

The Pointer Sisters promo image circa 1980's

The Pointer Sisters

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987

67

DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince promo image circa 1980's

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

68

Salt n Pepa promo image circa 1980's

69

Fleetwood Mac band promo image circa 1980's

Fleetwood Mac

1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

70

80's pop group The Go-Go's promo image circa 1980's

The Go-Go’s

1981 | 1982 | 1984

71

Paul McCartney circa 1983

1980 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1989

72

Pet Shop Boys West End Girls record cover

1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

73

Don Henley promo image circa 1980's

1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1989

74

Paul Simon promo image circa 1980's

Paul Simon

1980 | 1983 | 1986 | 1987

75

Tracy Chapman debut album record cover 1988

76

Cyndi Lauper Time After Time record cover

Cyndi Lauper

1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1989

77

Depeche Mode band promo image circa 1985

Depeche Mode

1985 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

78

Sonic Youth band promo image circa 1980's

79

Pete Townshend promo image circa 1980's

1980 | 1985 | 1986

80

Culture Club Karma Chameleon record cover

Culture Club

1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986

81

Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine Made Easy For Piano record cover 1987

Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine

82

De La Soul band promo image circa 1989

De La Soul

83

Luther Vandross promo image circa 1980's

Luther Vandross

1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

84

Chicago band promo image circa 1980's

Chicago

1980 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

85

80's band The Bangles posing for a promo image circa 1980's

1986 | 1988 | 1989

86

Thompson Twins band promo image circa 1980's

1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1989

87

Yes Owner of a Lonely Heart record cover

1983 | 1984 | 1987

88

Men At Work Who Can It Be Now record cover

1982 | 1983 | 1985

89

The Pixies band promo image circa 1980's

90

Pink Floyd Another Brick in the Wall Part II record cover

91

Robert Palmer promo image circa 1980's

1983 | 1985 | 1986 | 1988 | 1989

92

Kenny Loggins Footloose record cover

Kenny Loggins

1980 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

93

heavy metal band Whitesnake posing for promo images circa 1980's

1980 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

94

Sade

Sade

1985 | 1986 | 1988

95

Steve Winwood promo image circa 1980's

Steve Winwood

1981 | 1982 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

96

Billy Ocean Love Zone record cover

1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989

97

Tears For Fears Shout record cover

Tears for Fears

1983 | 1985 | 1986 | 1989

98

Bobby Brown promo image circa 1980's

1986 | 1988 | 1989

99

Scorpions Hurricane Rock record cover

1982 | 1984 | 1988

100

Simply Red If You Don't Know Me By Now record cover

1986 | 1987 | 1989

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