Most Popular Music Genres for Europeans

Introduction

Music is a big part of culture, and each country has its own distinct tastes. The same can be said for different genres of music. Some countries prefer indie rock while others might lean toward heavy metal, but which ones are the most popular in Europe? We took data from Spotify to find out!

Classical

Classical music is a broad term that covers a wide range of music. It originated in Europe, influenced by both Eastern and Western traditions. Classical music is often written for orchestras and soloists, but it can also be written for smaller groups or individual instruments.

Country

Country music is a genre of popular music that originated in the southern United States. It takes its roots from folk music, Celtic music and bluegrass. Country music has produced a number of popular recording artists and musicians.

Dance

Dance is a wide umbrella term for electronic dance music (EDM) and disco music. Dance is typically viewed as a genre of popular music that originated in the 1970s. It has been described as a fusion of rock and roll, funk and soul with elements of gospel music, jazz, hip hop and pop. The sound of dance can be heard throughout much of modern pop culture including film scores, television shows, video games and commercials.

Electronica

Electronica is a genre of electronic music, which includes dubstep and techno. It’s also a type of dance music that has become very popular in Europe.

Electronica can be traced back to the late 1980s when DJs began experimenting with synthesizers and drum machines. The first wave hit its peak around 1995 with acts like Fatboy Slim and Prodigy becoming popular worldwide thanks to their use of samples from other artists’ songs (which was illegal at the time).

Folk Music

Folk music is a genre of music that can be found in almost every country in Europe. It’s played by small groups of musicians and often sung in a language native to the region. Folk songs are typically accompanied by an instrument, such as a guitar or violin.

Heavy Metal or Hard Rock

Heavy metal, or “heavy metal,” is a genre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s. In contrast to hard rock, it has more emphasis on aggression and speed than on melody and lyrics. Heavy metal lyrics often deal with themes such as love, sex, death, war and politics; they can also be about mythology or fantasy.[1]

Hard rock is a subgenre of rock music that began in the mid-1960s when musicians rejected conventional standards of songwriting and performance practice in favor of expressing their own musical ideas without any boundaries set by existing genres.[2]

Indie Rock or Alternative

Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1980s. The term “indie” was coined to describe independent record labels, but it’s come to be used as a blanket term for any band that isn’t signed to one of the major labels (Warner Bros., Sony Music Entertainment Inc., Universal Music Group). Indie rock bands often feature guitar-driven music with strong melodies and lyrics delivered by singing rather than rapping or screaming. The genre combines elements from punk rock, indie pop, and college rock; some bands also incorporate electronic music sounds into their soundscapes.

Indie artists include Vampire Weekend (who won a Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album), Arctic Monkeys (nominated for Best British Group at this year’s Brit Awards), Franz Ferdinand (nominated for Best International Group at this year’s Brits)

Jazz and Blues

Jazz and Blues is a genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States. It developed from roots in African musical traditions, European military band music, and West African tribal singing.

The most popular jazz musicians include Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Miles Davis who all contributed to making jazz one of the most popular genres today.

List of the most popular music genres in Europe, based on data from Spotify

The most popular music genres in Europe, based on data from Spotify.

• Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
• Hip-Hop & Rap
• Pop
• Rock

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the top music genres in Europe. We know it can be hard to keep track of all these new names, but we’re sure that if you listen to at least one song from each genre, you’ll find something that speaks to your heart!