3. Important Trends in 1980s Popular Music
• Continued Corporate Consolidation
• MTV and music videos
• Non-rock styles
• Second British Invasion
• Censorship
4. Important Trends in 1980s Popular
Music
• MTV and music videos
– oriented toward rock and white audiences
– Later, Michael Jackson and hip-hop artists
• Rise of non-rock styles
– Country music the bestselling style in America
– Commercialization of hip-hop
– General fragmentation
• Second British Invasion
– New Wave and Punk movements
– New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM)
• Iron Maiden: “Sanctuary,” 1983
6. Samples of 1980s Mainstream Pop
• Cyndi Lauper
– “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” 1983
• The Police
– “Every Breath You Take,” 1983
• Van Halen
– “Hot for Teacher,” 1984
• The Bangles
– “Walk Like an Egyptian,” 1986
• Paula Abdul
– “Opposites Attract,” 1988
7. Michael Jackson and Thriller
• Michael Jackson
(1958-2009)
• Thriller, 1982
– Producer Quincy Jones
• Style combines rock,
funk, dance styles
– “Billie Jean,” 1982
8. How to Be an 80s “Superstar”
• Prince
– “When Doves Cry,” 1984
• Madonna
– “Material Girl,” 1985
Editor's Notes
Economy: continuation of 1970s economic downturn followed by relative boom after 1983
By 1984, inflation and unemployment under control
Deregulation of many industries during the Reagan administration
Beginning of the wide income gap between rich and poor
Politics:
Ronald Reagan elected president, 1980
Relative balance between liberal and conservative factions
Social conservatism on the rise
Foreign affairs
Final phase of the Cold War
Fall of Communism, beginning in 1989
MTV and music videos
oriented toward rock and white audiences
Later, Michael Jackson and hip-hop artists
Rise of non-rock styles
Country music the bestselling style in America
Commercialization of hip-hop
General fragmentation
Second British Invasion
New Wave and Punk movements
New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM)
Iron Maiden: “Sanctuary,” 1983
New Technology
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
Portable, personal music devices
Digital Recording and Compact Discs
CDs marketed in 1983
CDs outselling vinyl discs by 1988
Continued Corporate Consolidation
Two-thirds of the market controlled by six corporations by 1990
Major labels 1988–1999 (Big Six) Warner Music Group
EMI
Sony (known as CBS Records until January 1991 then known as Sony Music thereafter)
BMG
Universal Music Group
PolyGram
Buyout of American labels by foreign companies
Digital Recording
Music information stored as binary numbers representing 44,100 volume measurements (“samples”) per second
More “lifelike” sound that doesn’t degrade as easily
Synthesizers
1970s saw analog synthesizers in rock music
Digital synthesizers and MIDI
Samplers
Sequencers
Drum machines
Max Headroom, ca. 1987
Michael Jackson (1958-2009)
Began as a member of the Jackson 5, recording for Motown
First solo albums in the 1970s
Off the Wall, 1979—Peaked at No. 3 on US pop charts
Thriller, 1982
Over 29 million copies sold in the US
Subsequent albums all No. 1 and multiplatinum
Producer Quincy Jones
Style combines rock, funk, dance styles
“Beat It,” 1982
Record Contract
Music that appeals widely
Cross racial boundaries freely
Popular video
Iconic image
Must appear young!
Court controversy
Film (not TV!)
One name helps
Prince, ca. 1984
Madonna, ca. 1989