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 3

49 XTC

United Kingdom · 1976–2006 · new wave 1.800

50 Men at Work

Australia · 1979–1985 · pop rock 1.754

51 Pulp

United Kingdom · 1978– · britpop 1.754

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Australia · 1983– · alternative rock 1.620

53 Oingo Boingo

United States of America · 1972–1995 · new wave 1.600

Sting

United Kingdom · 1951– · pop rock 1.560

55 Bauhaus

United Kingdom · 1978–2008 · rock 1.246

56 Dexys Midnight Runners

United Kingdom · 1978– · new wave 1.216

57 Kevin Rowland

United Kingdom · 1953– · new wave 1.216

58 LCD Soundsystem

United States of America · 2001– · dance-punk 1.198

59 The Human League

United Kingdom · 1977– · new wave 1.173

60 MGMT

United States of America · 2002– · neo-psychedelia 1.155

61 Billy Idol

United Kingdom · 1955– · rock 1.136

62 Soda Stereo

Argentina · 1982–2007 · rock 1.112

63 Killing Joke

United Kingdom · 1979– · rock 1.110

Peter Gabriel

United Kingdom · 1950– · rock 1.067

65 Violent Femmes

United States of America · 1980– · rock 1.030

Franco Battiato

Italy · 1945–2021 · pop 1.000

67 Alphaville

Germany · 1983– · new wave 0.996

Nine Inch Nails

United States of America · 1988– · industrial 0.992

69 Wire

United Kingdom · 1976– · post-punk 0.935

Yes

United Kingdom · 1968– · progressive rock 0.909

71 A Flock of Seagulls

United Kingdom · 1980– · new wave 0.900

72 Wham!

United Kingdom · 1981–1986 · pop 0.880