History GatewaySeries / Music

** In TheEighties, it was probably Music/RunDMC or the Music/BeastieBoys.

** In particular, Eminem was a trail-blazer for getting Americans comfortable with explicit lyrics and shock content in the Top 40 mainstream. This is in part to many of his songs addressing the censorship his lyrics faced and [[TheGadfly provocatively]] asking about what harm he is actually doing.

** The same applies to Music/ShaniaTwain (for 90s pop fans), Music/TaylorSwift (for 2000s bubblegum pop fans), and Music/KaceyMusgraves.

* In the '90s, ContemporaryRAndB artists like Music/{{TLC}}, Music/DestinysChild, Music/EnVogue, [=SWV=], Music/JanetJackson, Mark Morrison, Des'ree, and Music/{{Aaliyah}} acted as a gateway into traditional RAndB, {{Soul}} and GospelMusic for non-urban audiences. Music/MichaelJackson, Music/WhitneyHouston and Music/BobbyBrown did the same in the late-80s, while Music/JustinTimberlake and Music/{{Beyonce}} would serve that purpose in the 2000s.

** Music/{{Skrillex}} is widely credited for being the gateway artist to {{Dubstep}}. In fact, dubstep is often credited by American EDM fans as the genre that got them into electronic music in general, contributing to the massive EDM boom of TheNewTens.

** This seems to be much of the purpose behind the "British Blues" scene and much of UsefulNotes/TheBritishInvasion rock in general -- to expose rock fans to blues, folk, jazz and early rock influences (African-American especially) by basically incorporating it into a more contemporary rock or rock-friendly electric blues style.

** Alternatively, Music/HowlinWolf for the more "down home" but "heavy electric" brand of blues -- or Music/JimmyReed for the more "gentle" but still "heavy electric" brand of blues.

** Music/{{Skrillex}} is widely credited for being the gateway artist for {{Dubstep}}. In fact, dubstep is often credited by American EDM fans as the genre that got them into electronic music in general, contributing to the massive EDM boom of TheNewTens.

** Because of VideoGame/GuitarHero, Music/{{DragonForce}} was definitely some kids' first Power Metal band.

* Music/PinkFloyd is this for ProgressiveRock, due to their relative accessibility compared to some prog bands. Music/{{Yes}}, Music/{{Genesis|Band}} and Music/{{Rush|Band}} are also common gateways for the same reason. Genesis is a somewhat interesting case, in which their notorious GenreShift to pop rock meant that one could effectively use them as a gateway to progressive rock by going through their discography ''backwards'', starting with ''Music/WeCantDance'' or ''Music/InvisibleTouch'' and slowly working down to ''Music/TheLambLiesDownOnBroadway'' or further. Yes is a bilateral gateway artist, with the '80s "[=YesWest=]" lineup helping introduce prog fans to '80s hits in general, and the classic '70s lineup(s) helping introduce those brought on by [[Music/NineOhOneTwoFive "Owner of a Lonely Heart"]] to prog in general. Meanwhile, Rush got many metalheads into progressive rock with songs such as the HardRock-tinged [[Music/MovingPictures "Tom Sawyer"]].

* Lots of ProgressiveRock fans get into classical and jazz. It's not surprising, given that many prog musicians are steeped in these genres. It also goes the other way; plenty of classical and jazz fans have gotten a toehold into rock through prog.

* Music/PinkFloyd is this for ProgressiveRock, due to their relative accessibility compared to some prog bands. Music/{{Yes}}, Music/{{Genesis|Band}} and Music/{{Rush|Band}} are also common gateways for the same reason. Genesis is a somewhat interesting case, in which their notorious GenreShift to pop rock meant that one could effectively use them as a gateway to progressive rock by going through their discography ''backwards'', starting with ''Music/WeCantDance'' or ''Music/InvisibleTouch'' and slowly working down to ''Music/TheLambLiesDownOnBroadway'' or further. Yes is a bilateral gateway artist, with the '80s "[=YesWest=]" lineup helping introduce prog fans to '80s hits in general, and the classic '70s lineup(s) helping introduce those brought on by [[Music/NineOhOneTwoFive "Owner of a Lonely Heart"]] to prog in general. Meanwhile, Rush got many metalheads into progressive rock with songs such as the HardRock-tinged "Tom Sawyer".

** ''Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand'' has been shown to be a good intro to AvantGardeMusic; the production is psychedelic and weird, but the actual songs are accessible pop, based on an aesthetic TwoDecadesBehind and sounded comforting and nostalgic even at the time. It's especially good for children, since the lyrical content is [[SugarBowl whimsical]] rather than DarkerAndEdgier or TrueArtIsIncomprehensible like a lot of the other experimental rock of that time - even the HigherUnderstandingThroughDrugs references are limited to DoubleEntendre. Many a 10-year old fell in love with ''Sgt. Pepper'', then moved on to ''Music/PetSounds'', and then went to decidedly spicy freak music like ''Music/TroutMaskReplica'', ''Music/LickMyDecalsOffBaby'', ''Music/TheMadcapLaughs'' and ''Music/{{Barrett}}''.

* Lots of ProgressiveRock fans get into classical and jazz music. It's not surprising, given that many prog musicians are steeped in these genres. It also goes the other way; plenty of classical and jazz fans have gotten a toehold into rock through prog.

* During the '90s, Music/SavageGarden were a lot of tween girls' first SoftRock band. The use of "I Want You" in ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' also got many anime & manga fans into 90s bubblegum pop.

** Due to Jellyfish's tendency to wear their myriad influences on their very colorful sleeves, it can equally be a GatewaySeries for BaroquePop, [[TheSixties 1960s]] or [[TheSeventies 1970s]] pop, AlternativeRock, UsefulNotes/TheBritishInvasion music, vintage [[IdolSinger bubblegum pop]], even obscure influences like Music/HenryMancini or Music/HugoMontenegro. Certain SingerSongwriter musicians like Music/HarryNilsson or Music/RandyNewman apparently were strong influences on the band as well.

* Music/TaylorSwift's 2020 album ''Music/{{folklore|2020}}'' is the album that got several non-fans of Swift (or pop music in general) to appreciate her music and become fans, mainly due to it being a NewSoundAlbum different from her earlier country and SynthPop albums and displaying a more stripped down and aesthetically honest approach.

* Music/Folklore2020 is the album that got several non-fans of Music/TaylorSwift (or pop music in general) to appreciate her music and become fans, mainly due to it being a NewSoundAlbum different from her earlier country and SynthPop albums and displaying a more stripped down and aesthetically honest approach.

* Jazz fusion artists, including ''Music/BitchesBrew''-era Music/MilesDavis, Music/PatMetheny, Jaco Pastorious, Music/WeatherReport and Music/JoniMitchell's mid-late '70s albums, introduced a lot of rock fans to jazz.

** While he's best known as an actor, Creator/JeffGoldblum's also a professional jazz pianist and after years of playing a weekly gig at The Rockwell in Los Angeles and occasionally showing off on talk shows and in movies, he and his band The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra released an album of jazz standards, ''The Capitol Studios Sessions'', in 2018. It introduced much of his sizable fanbase to the music (especially Rat Pack-era material), showing that it isn't as "difficult" as it often appears to be and in fact is often ''fun''. It sold so well that a second album, ''I Shouldn't Be Telling You This'', arrived the next year.

* Music/HallAndOates' unique brand of HardRock crossed with RAndB can be enjoyed by anyone who loves classic rock, serving as a gateway into R&B itself and its sister genres such as GospelMusic, {{Soul}} and even HipHop.

* The 2016 album ''Music/NewsAt11'' by 猫 シ Corp. has been [[https://www.reddit.com/r/ObscureMedia/comments/k820px/2001_morning_news_show_footage_from_september_11/gew16g2/ described]] as one of the better albums to use to introduce someone to the {{Vaporwave}} genre.

* During the '90s, Music/SavageGarden were a lot of tween girls' first soft rock band. The use of "I Want You" in ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' also got many anime & manga fans into 90s bubblegum pop.

* Music/TheRamones and Music/TheStooges are a gateway to PunkRock in general, due to being some of the first punk bands.

* Music/BobMarley and the Wailers are the usual gateway into {{Reggae}} and dub. Also, they've covered many songs from the mento, calypso, soul, {{doowop}}, funk and African genres which means that hearing the originals can often attract people to those genres as well.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' games have introduced a generation of gamers to classic pop, country, and jazz songs from TheForties, TheFifties, and TheSixties. People who would otherwise most likely never have sought out that kind of music found themselves becoming fans of artists such as Music/FrankSinatra, Music/EllaFitzgerald, Music/MartyRobbins, and ''especially'' Music/TheInkSpots after hearing their songs on their Pip-Boy's radio.

** And on that note, Music/{{Metallica}}, Music/{{Megadeth}}, Music/{{Anthrax}}, Music/{{Slayer}}, Music/BlackSabbath, Music/JudasPriest, Music/IronMaiden and Music/DreamTheater are common gateways into more obscure or specific subgenres of metal. A lot of people get into metal through Music/AliceInChains, too.

* Music/PinkFloyd is this for ProgressiveRock, due to their relative accessibility compared to some prog bands. Music/{{Yes}}, Music/{{Genesis|Band}} and Music/{{Rush}} are also common gateways for the same reason. Genesis is a somewhat interesting case, in which their notorious GenreShift to pop rock meant that one could effectively use them as a gateway to progressive rock by going through their discography ''backwards'', starting with ''Music/WeCantDance'' or ''Music/InvisibleTouch'' and slowly working down to ''Music/TheLambLiesDownOnBroadway'' or further. Yes is a bilateral gateway artist, with the '80s "[=YesWest=]" lineup helping introduce prog fans to '80s hits in general, and the classic '70s lineup(s) helping introduce those brought on by [[Music/NineOhOneTwoFive "Owner of a Lonely Heart"]] to prog in general. Meanwhile, Rush got many metalheads into progressive rock with songs such as the HardRock-tinged "Tom Sawyer".

* When it comes to Christian rock, Music/{{Skillet}} and Music/{{Red|Band}} are two gateways among rock fans who normally are averse to the genre. NotChristianRock bands like Music/{{Flyleaf}} also help.

** Eminem also serves as a gateway for fans of rock getting into hip-hop, in part because of his occasional RapRock albums, but also due to the way his angsty sensibility suits rock tastes better than the BoastfulRap content of radio hip-hop (at least until the rise of emo rap at the end of the 2010s).

* Music/JohnWilliams is a common gateway into both film soundtracks and classical music. His soundtrack for ''Franchise/StarWars'' frequently appears on lists of essential classical music recordings for new classical fans.

* Music/PinkFloyd is this for ProgressiveRock, due to their relative accessibility compared with most prog bands. Music/{{Yes}}, Music/{{Genesis|Band}} and Music/{{Rush}} are also common gateways for the same reason. Genesis is a somewhat interesting case, in which their notorious GenreShift to pop rock meant that one could effectively use them as a gateway to progressive rock by going through their discography ''backwards'', starting with ''Music/WeCantDance'' or ''Music/InvisibleTouch'' and slowly working down to ''Music/TheLambLiesDownOnBroadway'' or further. Yes is a bilateral gateway artist, with the '80s "[=YesWest=]" lineup helping introduce prog fans to '80s hits in general, and the classic '70s lineup(s) helping introduce those brought on by [[Music/NineOhOneTwoFive "Owner of a Lonely Heart"]] to prog in general. Meanwhile, Rush got many metalheads into progressive rock with songs such as the HardRock-tinged "Tom Sawyer".

* Music/AkiraYamaoka's soundtracks for the ''Franchise/SilentHill'' series have introduced many people to electronic, industrial, and ambient music.

* Chances are Miku Hatsune will be your first experience with Music/{{Vocaloid}}.