GENRE

Modern Rock Artists

Guitar-driven songs pair punchy drums with polished hooks, switching between tense verses and big, singable choruses.

29 Modern Rock artists · 48 releases in the last 6 months · Top labels: RCA Records Label, Rock Shop Records, Warner Records

Related Genres

Artists

Foo Fighters photo
Foo Fighters
RCA Records Label · RCA · Sony Music
post-grungerockalternative rock
The Veer Union photo
The Veer Union
Arising Empire · Rock Shop Records
alternative rockhard rockrock
blink-182 photo
blink-182
Columbia · Geffen · Geffen Records
pop punkpunkskate punk
Nothing But Thieves photo
Nothing But Thieves
RCA Records Label · Columbia Local
alternative rockrockindie rock
Foster The People photo
Foster The People
Columbia · Atlantic Records · BMG Rights Management (UK)
indieindie popalternative
Florence + The Machine photo
Florence + The Machine
Positiva · Florence + The Machine · UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
baroque popalternative rockart pop
Pierce The Veil photo
Pierce The Veil
Fearless Records · Giant Music · triple j
emoscreamopost-hardcore
The Killers photo
The Killers
The Killers - 2020 P&D · Island Records · Good Time Records
alternative rockindieindie rock
Imagine Dragons photo
Imagine Dragons
Interscope Records · Interscope · KIDinaKORNER
indieindie rockalternative
IDLES photo
IDLES
Partisan Records · Kill Rock Stars · KONG
post-punkpunkpost-hardcore

About Modern Rock

Modern rock is a radio-facing umbrella for current rock releases, heard on college and commercial rock stations rather than framed around older catalogues. It can cover guitar-led alternative rock, indie rock, pop rock and adjacent electronic touches, so the sound ranges from direct, hook-heavy songs to more angular or atmospheric productions. The term grew from radio programming language, used to separate newer rock from classic rock built around music of the 1960s through the 1980s. Unlike a tightly defined subgenre, modern rock is distinguished by its contemporary broadcast context and its broad overlap with alternative and indie styles.

Modern Rock at a glance

Descriptorsenergetic, guitar-driven, anthemic, melodic, varied
Characteristicselectric guitar riffs, live drum kit rhythms, bass-led rock arrangements, verse-chorus songwriting, alternative rock influences
Key instrumentselectric guitar, bass guitar, drum kit, vocals, synthesizer
OriginUnited States, 1980s

Top Labels

RCA Records LabelRock Shop RecordsWarner RecordsColumbiaAtlantic RecordsPartisan RecordsPolydor RecordsFueled By RamenKNIKInterscope Records

Notable Contributors

Producers
MuseDan LancasterAndrew WyattOliver RomanJerry Finn
Songwriters
Matt BellamyIsaac BrockDan LancasterSam FogarinoPaul BanksDaniel KesslerBrad TruaxNate MendelPat SmearChris ShiflettMark HoppusDave GrohlRami JaffeeTom DeLongeTravis Barker

Recent Releases

Barstool Blues artwork
Barstool Blues
Modest Mouse
Killphonic
You’re Alright (Pixel Grip Remix) artwork
You’re Alright (Pixel Grip Remix)
Peaches, IDLES, Pixel Grip
Kill Rock Stars
The Sharpest Lives (Live from Hoboken) artwork
The Sharpest Lives (Live from Hoboken)
My Chemical Romance
Reprise, Reprise Records
A Different Kind of Happiness artwork
A Different Kind of Happiness
Nothing But Thieves
RCA Records Label
This Mirror Weighs a Ton artwork
This Mirror Weighs a Ton
Interpol
Partisan Records
MIND OVER MATTER (Reimagined) artwork
MIND OVER MATTER (Reimagined)
Crispin Earl, The Veer Union
Rock Shop Records
Mind Over Matter artwork
Mind Over Matter
The Veer Union
Rock Shop Records
More Than We Ever Imagined (Live in Mexico City) artwork
More Than We Ever Imagined (Live in Mexico City)
Twenty One Pilots
Fueled By Ramen, Atlantic
Baby Kool (Evelyn) artwork
Baby Kool (Evelyn)
Nothing But Thieves
RCA Records Label
Pumped Up Kicks (OMRI. Remix) artwork
Pumped Up Kicks (OMRI. Remix)
Foster The People, OMRI.
Columbia
Stray Dogs artwork
Stray Dogs
Nothing But Thieves
RCA Records Label
Count Your Blessings | Repented artwork
Count Your Blessings | Repented
Bring Me The Horizon
RCA Records Label, Sony Music, RCA
Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Deluxe Edition) artwork
Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (Deluxe Edition)
My Chemical Romance
Reprise, Reprise Records
Iron City artwork
Iron City
Interpol
Partisan Records
All Your Light (Times Like These) [RZA Remix] artwork
All Your Light (Times Like These) [RZA Remix]
Portugal. The Man
Rhino Atlantic

Common questions

What is Modern Rock?

Modern Rock is a music genre defined by electric guitar riffs, live drum kit rhythms, bass-led rock arrangements, verse-chorus songwriting, and alternative rock influences. Guitar-driven songs pair punchy drums with polished hooks, switching between tense verses and big, singable choruses.

Where did Modern Rock come from?

Modern Rock originated in United States, 1980s.

What instruments are used in Modern Rock?

Modern Rock is built mainly from electric guitar, bass guitar, drum kit, vocals, and synthesizer.

Which Modern Rock artists are most popular?

Foo Fighters, The Veer Union, blink-182, Nothing But Thieves, and Foster The People are the highest ranked by Spotify popularity of the 29 Modern Rock artists on this page.

Which labels release Modern Rock?

RCA Records Label, Rock Shop Records, Warner Records, Columbia, and Atlantic Records have put out the most Modern Rock records in the Tracknack catalogue.

What genres are similar to Modern Rock?

Artists tagged Modern Rock are most often also tagged Rock, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative, and Indie.

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