United States New wave music

martha davis of motels performs @ hollywood park

in december 1982 gallup poll, 14% of teenagers rated new wave music favorite type of music, making third popular. new wave had greatest popularity on west coast. unlike other genres, race not factor in popularity of new wave music, according poll. urban contemporary radio stations first play dance-oriented new wave artists such b-52 s, culture club, duran duran , abc.

new wave soundtracks used in mainstream brat pack films such valley girl, sixteen candles, pretty in pink, , breakfast club. john hughes, director of several of these films, enthralled british new wave music , placed songs acts such psychedelic furs, simple minds , echo , bunnymen in films, helping keep new wave in mainstream. several of these songs remain standards of era. critics described mtv acts of period shallow or vapid. homophobic slurs faggot , art fag openly used describe new wave musicians. despite criticism, danceable quality of music , quirky fashion sense associated new wave artists appealed audiences.

the use of synthesizers new wave acts influenced development of house music in chicago , techno in detroit. in september 1988, billboard launched modern rock chart. while acts on chart reflected wide variety of stylistic influences, new wave s legacy remained in large influx of acts great britain , acts popular in rock discos, chart s name, reflected how new wave had been marketed modern . new wave s indie spirit crucial development of college rock , grunge/alternative rock in latter half of 1980s , beyond.