The early 1970’s marked a significant shift in music which would not only bring rise to new genres, but lay the groundwork for the genres which would emerge in the 1980’s. The era began with clearly defined events signifying the end of one era and the beginning of another—most notably the death of three psychedelic rock stars (Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix) and the breakup of the the Beatles.

Many successful artists of the 1960’s enjoyed continued success into the early 1970’s—Ricky Nelson enjoyed hits in the earlier part of the decade, and artists such as Paul Anka, Neil Sedaka, and Frankie Valli all enjoyed hits well into the middle part of the decade. But by 1974, new sounds were emerging and new styles forming, ones which would have lasting impact on the music industry in the decades to come. The era saw the growth of electronic music, contributing to the growth of hard rock, with artists such as Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Queen, and Black Sabbath enjoying a rise in the earlier part of the decade. By the latter part of the decade, groups such as AC/DC, Van Halen, Kiss, and Aerosmith would carry the torch into the 1980’s, and many would last well into the new millennium. At the same time, heavy use of synthesizers and electronics also sparked the rise of new wave music, with groups such as The Cars and Talking Heads developing in the latter part of the 1970’s and rising to prominence in the 1980’s. The genre of punk rock was not far behind, with The Ramones, Blondie, and Patti Smith enjoying success both in the United States and across the pond.

At the same time, country rock enjoyed its emergence, with artists such as Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris bringing hits in the middle part of the decade. Groups such as the Eagles blended elements of rock and country rock to score hits such as the iconic single “Hotel California” and the album of the same name, which is today recognized as one of the most notable contributions of the era. Soft pop and soft rock acts also thrived during this period, with hits from Simon & Garfunkel, Billy Joel, and America. The artist Carole King’s launched to stardom in 1971 with the album Tapestry (1971), and the single “It’s Too Late,” which went on to become not only the artist’s breakthrough but one of the decade’s biggest hits. Six years later, soft rock group Fleetwood Mac would give audiences Rumors (1977), the best selling album of the decade, featuring hits such as “Go Your Own Way,” “The Chain,” and “Gold Dust Woman.”

By the end of the 1970’s, artists such as Stevie Wonder had emerged on the pop/R&B front, with Wonder dominating industry awards with Best Male Pop & R/B vocal Grammies for three years running between 1974 and 1977. The Jackson 5 arose not only as the group that spawned the major hits “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There,” but also as the group which would spawn the industry’s most legendary megastar in the years to come. A whole new sound and a whole new medium – the “music video”—was just around the corner, and with it came changes no one could have anticipated.