The Groove

The greatest new wave artists of all time

121 artists ranked by the Groove — music.nw’s own measure of renown. Not an opinion, a fact computed from the record. Why?

No. 1

Talking Heads

United States of America · 1974–1991 · new wave

35.132

Why this number?

The full board · page 2

25 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

United Kingdom · 1977– · electronic 3.254

26 Adam and the Ants

United Kingdom · 1977–1982 · new wave 3.170

INXS

Australia · 1977–2012 · rock 3.116

Depeche Mode

United Kingdom · 1980– · electronic 2.998

29 DEVO

United States of America · 1972– · new wave 2.866

Franz Ferdinand

United Kingdom · 2001– · indie rock 2.730

31 Echo & the Bunnymen

United Kingdom · 1978– · rock 2.725

32 Gary Numan

United Kingdom · 1958– · new wave 2.663

Alice Cooper

United States of America · 1948– · hard rock 2.629

34 Pretenders

United Kingdom · 1978– · new wave 2.490

35 The The

United Kingdom · 1979– · new wave 2.421

King Crimson

United Kingdom · 1968–2021 · progressive rock 2.335

Prince

United States of America · 1958–2016 · funk 2.315

38 Tubeway Army

United Kingdom · 1977–1979 · new wave 2.291

39 The Chameleons

United Kingdom · 1981–2003 · post-punk 2.130

40 The Birthday Party

United Kingdom · 1980–1983 · post-punk 2.100

41 Nina Hagen Band

Germany · 1977–1979 · punk 2.000

42 ’Til Tuesday

United States of America · 1982–1989 · new wave 2.000

43 Television

United States of America · 1973–2023 · rock 1.980

44 Кино 1981–1990 · new wave 1.937

45 Cyndi Lauper

United States of America · 1953– · new wave 1.933

46 Yazoo

United Kingdom · 1982–1983 · new wave 1.925

47 Elvis Costello & The Attractions

United Kingdom · 1977–1996 · rock 1.918

48 Metric

Canada · 1998– · indie rock 1.900