Who has made the biggest impact in music this century?
- Thread starter TI92
- Start date
This century as in the last 100 years?
Or this century as in the 21st century?
If the the former my vote is black sabbath, who created an entire genre that branched out to dozens of categories.
Though I would say anyone that created a new genre should be eligible.
Or this century as in the 21st century?
If the the former my vote is black sabbath, who created an entire genre that branched out to dozens of categories.
Though I would say anyone that created a new genre should be eligible.
OP
OP
Probably Simon Fuller, the man behind the 'singing show' phenomenon that we are still struggling through.
Kanye probably doesn't feature in the top 50 unless you are in the US.
Kanye probably doesn't feature in the top 50 unless you are in the US.
This is a decent shout too.
OP
OP
I was under the impression that rap/hip hop isn't anywhere nearly as popular worldwide as it is in America, no?
That's a good shout, actually.
Apple really made portable music a big deal and not like the cassette/MD/CD players of the 90s, but basically became the de facto portable music players by linking the player and store as one. iPod basically became generic brand catchall for mp3 player.
In terms of artists, I kind of don't feel there's been anyone who has had a massive impact that has caused any shift. I think that's always something that happens in hindsight anyway. I think the digital music elements have made it so you're not limited to radio or TV exposure, so it's less likely for someone to be pushed into the limelight in the same way. People complain about how much they dislike Bieber, but I don't think I've actually heard one of his songs because I don't really seek it out.
I'd probably put Gorillaz up there.
In terms of influencing the industry, you could say the likes of Radiohead and NIN, and probably a few others that did pioneering distribution stuff.
Kanye is a good pick too. Probably JayZ, Daft Punk and Linkin Park could be decent candidates.
But I think moreso now than ever, when people have access to lots of different types of music, there aren't any particular artists who are able to have as much impact and influence as big musicians from the past, just because the way people listen to music has changed.
In terms of influencing the industry, you could say the likes of Radiohead and NIN, and probably a few others that did pioneering distribution stuff.
Kanye is a good pick too. Probably JayZ, Daft Punk and Linkin Park could be decent candidates.
But I think moreso now than ever, when people have access to lots of different types of music, there aren't any particular artists who are able to have as much impact and influence as big musicians from the past, just because the way people listen to music has changed.
Last edited:
Businesswise unquestionably. Although Spotify and precursors like pandora aren't too far behind.
Artistically Kanye probably has as good a shout as anyone. All his productions - even forgetting his solo stuff - dominated the best part of a decade.
Edit also he made backpackers mainstream, which lead to drake.
OP
OP
Yep, friends of mine will moan how they cant stand Kanye, then start jamming to kid Cudi's Man on the Moon album and im like... you know this is a Kanye produced album through and through right...?
hilarious to see them grumble and admit hes great
If we're including Apple, then YouTube is an obvious inclusion as well.
I'm in the UK and listen to chart radio, I couldn't tell you about a single song of his since 'Stronger', and I only know that because I checked on Wikipedia the last thing of his I can remember. If he wasn't in the news regularly for celebrity shenanigans, I wouldn't even know he was still working.
Thread isn't about America. Even if it were we've already named 2 companies and 1 Music/TV producer that have had a far bigger influence on US music than Kanye has. (I'm not a massive fan of listing companies, but you could definitely pin the decision making on certain individuals within those companies if you knew the ins and outs of it, it's just easier using the company name as shorthand.)
I don't listen to a lot of modern mainstream music, so I can't approach this from an angle of influence. My metrics would have to be sales and award wins. If we're going by a combination of those, it's definitely one of these:
Beyonce
Taylor Swift
Kanye West
Eminem
Going by just album sales though, it's Rihanna.
Beyonce
Taylor Swift
Kanye West
Eminem
Going by just album sales though, it's Rihanna.
OP
OP
I'd say Daft Punk. The stuff they came up with in their early albums (mainly Discovery) set the stage for anyone using electronic instruments in their work in the past two decades.
Has to be the emo culture of the mid 2000's. It went on for years and made superstars out of the likes of MCR, Panic!, Fallout boy, Paramore, reignited Green Day, Simple Plan, and the list goes on.
You don't have to like them to acknowledge their cultural impact, especially on Millennials.
You don't have to like them to acknowledge their cultural impact, especially on Millennials.
I'm not saying I'm not, at all.
Conversely, I certainly don't seek out the music of Taylor Swift or Rihanna but I couldn't escape them even if I tried, so talking purely about recording artists I'd have to assume they would be stronger contenders for 'impact' than Kanye is.
Long story short: I think the thread title and the discussion you want to have aren't fully in alignment. :)
My answer for me personally : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroyuki_Sawano
After the XCX soundtrack, everything else seems watered down acoustically. So many goddamned layers to his tracks. If all music was produced to this standard we'd have a lot less music, but BOY would it be worth listening to.
I am also in the UK and when I go to clubs I hear a LOT of Kanye. Specifically, Stronger, Mercy, Gold Digger and POWER.
I think Max Martin would have to be a decent contender if you limit yourself to western pop music. As a songwriter he has shaped a great deal of pop since the 90s. Personally the greatest thing he ever (co)wrote was "Show Me The Meaning of Being Lonely" in 1999 by the Backstreet Boys.
But everyone from Kesha to Katy Perry to Pink to Britney Spears to Taylor Swift sings his material.
But everyone from Kesha to Katy Perry to Pink to Britney Spears to Taylor Swift sings his material.
For sure I've heard 'Gold Digger' getting broken out in clubs, but if that's the criteria then ABBA and Britney Spears are also in contention.
I'm not saying I haven't heard any Kanye tunes in that time, just that for the best part of the last decade I've heard much more about him as a person than I've heard about him musically.
More importantly, I haven't heard a tune and said to myself, "Oh, that sounds like a Kanye track," only to find out it was by someone else.
Ed Sheeran, on the other hand, appears to have written every 2nd song on the radio. The only reason I haven't mentioned Sheeran before is that I think is influence his fairly recent, and presumably much more advanced in the UK than elsewhere.
Those flinstone remixes are quite gold,
I recommend this:
Best Temple of Time remix of the century!
Anyway:
Beyonce
Taylor Swift
Justin Bieber (yep even him)
Rihanna
Kanye West (altho i never hear his music here on the radio in my country lol)
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga i think too
Dutch DJ's (wich have become quite big Afrojack and the likes for example)
I am sure i missed some but honestly any big star right now with multiple fantastic tracks, is one that counts for this century imo.
OP
OP
I think you are misunderstanding radio airtime and impact, not to say TSwift and Rihanna don't have impact on the music industry but the same level as Kanye? That seems like a stretch.
Give this video a watch, I'm sure there are more out there but this really shows his growth and why he is so revered as one of the all time greats in hip hop especially
Kanye hasn't been big in europe since stronger. Most of his newer stuff is pretty unknown.
Imo, it's Rihanna. In the pop world at least. I mean, she usually just sets the trend and every other popstars follow suit.
Cheryl Cole copied We Found Love with Call My Name. Taylor Swift also copied the opening monologue from the We Found Love video in her own I Knew You Were Trouble video. Actually, both Cheryl and Taylor's videos captured the mood of the We Found Love one.
Keri Hilson copied Rude Boy with Lose Control. Halsey copied Needed Me with Now or Never. Nicole Scherzinger copied Only Girl (In The World) with Wet. Even a french singer tried to copy Umbrella way back then when it came out.
The whole discography of Rita Ora and Fifth Harmony were inspired by Rihanna's.
I actually wrote about Rihanna's influence focusing on the 10th anniversary of her iconic Good Girl Gone Bad album for i-D (it's only available in french though).
Cheryl Cole copied We Found Love with Call My Name. Taylor Swift also copied the opening monologue from the We Found Love video in her own I Knew You Were Trouble video. Actually, both Cheryl and Taylor's videos captured the mood of the We Found Love one.
Keri Hilson copied Rude Boy with Lose Control. Halsey copied Needed Me with Now or Never. Nicole Scherzinger copied Only Girl (In The World) with Wet. Even a french singer tried to copy Umbrella way back then when it came out.
The whole discography of Rita Ora and Fifth Harmony were inspired by Rihanna's.
I actually wrote about Rihanna's influence focusing on the 10th anniversary of her iconic Good Girl Gone Bad album for i-D (it's only available in french though).
Daft Punk revolutionised live concerts for electronic artist with their 2006 coachella concert.
At that time people were still wondering how "some guys on a computer" would work as a live show.
Skrillex was at that concert and made him want to become an electronic artist.
Also, as mentioned, Discovery was huge in 2001.
David Guetta sort of brought the european EDM sound into mainstream american pop music in '09.
(When love takes over and I gotta feeling with the black eyed peas).
I mean, just look at overly serious Rihanna in 2009 (Russian roulette, Unfaithful) and her after that
(Only girl in the world, who's that chick etc.). Lady Gaga was pretty influential at that time too,
especially for music videos, everybody had to wear coloured wigs and have insanely colourful costumes and
sets.
At that time people were still wondering how "some guys on a computer" would work as a live show.
Skrillex was at that concert and made him want to become an electronic artist.
Also, as mentioned, Discovery was huge in 2001.
David Guetta sort of brought the european EDM sound into mainstream american pop music in '09.
(When love takes over and I gotta feeling with the black eyed peas).
I mean, just look at overly serious Rihanna in 2009 (Russian roulette, Unfaithful) and her after that
(Only girl in the world, who's that chick etc.). Lady Gaga was pretty influential at that time too,
especially for music videos, everybody had to wear coloured wigs and have insanely colourful costumes and
sets.
Felt like Animal Collective getting popular influenced pop music for a bit mid 00s. Burial was pretty influential in electronic music. Lil' B for internet famous. Honestly, though, probably Justin Bieber all around has had the most impact culturally.
I think he started the EDM craze for real in Europe? or was it Guetta? Anyway, nothing has changed euro musical scene this century as much as rise of EDM. So whoever was most responsible for that deserves the spot.
Tiesto changing his sound a decade ago is still one of the most bitter revelations in music for me. Thank god for Armin Van Buuren.
In terms of sound and reach, part of me thinks the Drive soundtrack has been pretty impactful.
The actual answer is probably the internet since it thoroughly demolished the old studio system’s economic model.
The actual answer is probably the internet since it thoroughly demolished the old studio system’s economic model.
That’s not a bad shout. Garage Band for the masses!
That “style” arguably comes from The Bends. Lots of similar acts at the time - your Travis’, your Keane’s and what-not - all owe Radiohead a huge debt.
That's fine and all, and again, I'm not dissing Kanye here, I just think you've opened up such a broad subject heading with 'biggest impact on music' that you're not seeing how wide the picture is.
Come back to my original answer, Simon Fuller. Would you say that the strong trend of these singing talent shows we've had for ages now haven't had a bigger impact on the music we all hear, everywhere, every day, than Kanye has?
You don't have to like what it has done to the music industry, but look at the impact. Artists like Adele and Sam Smith didn't come from the talent shows, but they still fit the broad section of the market that was moulded/exploited by shows like Pop Idol, X-Factor and The Voice, and their recording styles reflect that trend.
I'm not saying my answer is mathematically perfect, it was what came to mind when I read the thread title. There are other good answers above from others too, writers, producers and companies that over decades have shaped the music we hear every day. Kanye is part of that mix, but I don't think his musical influence is strong enough for serious consideration as 'biggest'. Maybe in 2050 the influence his wider influence will be more apparent I'll be more inclined to agree.
Completely changed the most culturally relevant genre of music TWICE. Killed gangsta rap for good when Graduation outsold Curtis, and birthed this entire generation of rappers with 808s and Heartbreak. Anyone that says it isn’t Kanye Omari West is fooling themselves.
Skrillex, tbh.
Electronic music used to be way outside the mainstream and the 2010s have been all about it.
Skrillex was the big un in this space, and had a ton of super-millennial-ass videos and albums that defined the times.
Electronic music used to be way outside the mainstream and the 2010s have been all about it.
Skrillex was the big un in this space, and had a ton of super-millennial-ass videos and albums that defined the times.
Last edited:
Outside of the US, Timbaland >> Kanye (just one example)
Edit: Neptunes/Pharrell too, hell, even Black Eyed Peas lol
Edit: Neptunes/Pharrell too, hell, even Black Eyed Peas lol