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Genres
- Grunge: The new rock n' roll of the nineties, literally. The "big four" are Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden.
- Hip Hop Soul was a direct offshoot of New Jack Swing that was created in 1989 by R&B producer Teddy Riley, and quickly displaced its parent genre as the decade progressed.
- Contemporary R&B would emerge from the death of New Jack Swing, the birth of Hip Hop Soul and from the synth-heavy R&B stylings of the 1980s.
- Nu Metal: The new (alternative) metal of the nineties. Coolly received by critics and traditionalists, but very successful with teens.
- New Jack Swing continued to have popularity in the first half of the 90s, though it would be seen as outdated by 1995 and was gradually replaced by other forms of R&B like Neo-Soul.
- Alternative Hip Hop: Made hip-hop very chic among some white college kids.
- Jazz Rap: Hip-Hop with heavy emphasis on jazz samples, and live jazz instrumentation; popularized by A Tribe Called Quest. Though beginning in the late Eighties, it saw the most commercial success in the 1990s.
- Boy Bands
- The "electronica" boom that crested in the mid-late '90s, including among others: Daft Punk and The Prodigy. On the other side, Trance also gained stride, with producers like Armin Van Buuren, Ferry Corsten and Markus Schulz starting out in this decade.
- Trip Hop: Originated in the early '90s in Bristol with bands Portishead and Massive Attack.
- Dancehall Reggae also crosses over during this decade .
- Britpop: Britain's response to Grunge, including acts such as Blur, Oasis, Pulp and Suede.
- Riot Grrrl: A punk movement that began in the early 90s that combined Hardcore Punk with feminist subject matter. It has particular association with third wave feminism which some have suggested had grown out from this movement.
- Midwestern rap acts
- Gangsta Rap: The other new rock n' roll of the nineties.
- G-Funk: A West Coast gangsta rap subgenre focused on Parliament-Funkadelic samples and a sunny, stoned sound.
- Melodic Rap: Birthed by sevral of G-Funk's artists using sing-song cadences in their flows, it would be innovated by Snoop Dogg and his posse, before being codified by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony in the mid-90s
- Third Wave Ska such as: Reel Big Fish and No Doubt.
- The Melodic Death Metal movement, which was started circa 1993.
- Jungle/drum'n'bass, while we're at it: Goldie, Roni Size, UK Apachi, LTJ Bukem, Photek, Dillinja, DJ Krust, etc.
- Black Metal was codified in the early and mid-1990's in Northern Europe, both musically and aesthetically. This is also the time of the infamous "Black Circle" hijinks such as murders, suicides, and church-burnings that helped give the popular image of black metal today.
- Queercore began during the Nineties.
- Eurobeat: The Italian-made version's initial popularity was primarily experienced in this decade.
- Jam bands: A scene of psychedelic bands heavily influenced by the Grateful Dead and The Allman Brothers Band, and known primarily for their live performances featuring improvisational jams. Top bands in this scene included Phish and the Dave Matthews Band, both of whom developed cult followings in the '90s that would endure for decades.
Musicians #-A
- μ-Ziq
- 2 Live Crew
- 2 Brothers on the 4th Floor
- 3rd Bass
- 4 Non Blondes
- The 5th Dimension
- 16 Horsepower
- 36 Crazyfists
- The 77s
- 311
- 883
- 8Ball & MJG
- 10cc
- 10,000 Maniacs. Formed in the 80s, reached their mainstream peak in 1993.
- Spun off: Natalie Merchant's solo career.
- A.R. Kane
- A-Teens
- Aaliyah
- Paula Abdul
- Abney Park
- Aborted
- Above The Law
- Accept
- AC/DC
- Ace of Base
- 1992/1993 - Happy Nation / The Sign
- Acid Bath
- Acid Mothers Temple
- Adam Ant
- 1990 - Manners & Physique
- Bryan Adams
- The Adicts
- Trace Adkins
- Aerosmith
- 1989/90 - Pump (was released in 1989, but several songs were released in 1990)
- 1993 - Get a Grip
- Aesop Rock
- The Afghan Whigs
- AFI
- Afro Celt Sound System
- Afroman
- Agalloch
- Agent Steel
- Christina Aguilera. Debuted in 1999.
- Air
- Air Supply
- Alabama
- The Alarm
- Ali Project
- Alice in Chains
- 1992 - Dirt
- Alien Ant Farm
- Alkaline Trio
- ALL
- Gary Allan
- GG Allin: Batshit insane and controversial rock musician. Better known for his outrageously offensive stage acts than his music.
- The Allman Brothers Band
- Herb Alpert
- Alphaville
- America
- American Football
- Amon Amarth
- Amon Düül II
- Amorphis
- Tori Amos
- 1992 - Little Earthquakes
- Namie Amuro
- Anal Cunt
- Anastacia
- Anathema
- And One. German EBM group, started in 1989 and still going today.
- Laurie Anderson
- Angelcorpse
- Angra
- Paul Anka
- Annihilator
- Marc Anthony
- Anthrax
- Aphex Twin
- 1992 - Selected Ambient Works 85-92
- 1994 - Selected Ambient Works Volume II
- 1995 - ...I Care Because You Do
- 1996 - Richard D. James Album
- ApologetiX
- Apollo 440
- Fiona Apple
- Aqua
- Arashi. Debuted in 1999.
- Ariya - Russian Heavy Metal band
- Ricardo Arjona
- A Tribe Called Quest
- 1991 - The Low End Theory
- 1996 - Beats, Rhymes and Life
- Al B. Sure!
- Bill Anderson
- Anti-Flag
- Anohni and the Johnsons
- Apocalyptica
- Apollo 440
- The Aquabats!
- 1997 - The Fury Of The Aquabats
- L'arc-en-Ciel
- Arch-Enemy
- Archive
- Arcturus
- Arrested Development
- The Arrogant Worms
- Die Ärzte
- Ikue Asazaki
- Ash
- Asia
- The Associates
- Rick Astley
- At the Drive-In
- At the Gates
- Atheist
- Juan Atkins
- Atmosphere
- Augie March
- The Austin Lounge Lizards
- Autechre
- Autopsy
- Emilie Autumn. Her debut album was released in 1997.
- The Avalanches
- Avantasia. Project started in 1999.
- Avenged Sevenfold. The band formed in 1999. Though their first album came out in 2001 and they would only achieve widespread recognition and success c. 2005.
- Axe Murder Boyz
- Axel Rudi Pell
- Roy Ayers
- Eva Ayllón
- Charles Aznavour
Musicians B-C
- The B-52s
- B'z
- Babes in Toyland
- Babyface
- Burt Bacharach
- Backstreet Boys
- Bad Brains
- Bad Company
- Bad Religion
- Erykah Badu
- Joan Baez
- Adrian Baker
- Anita Baker
- Bal-Sagoth
- Long John Baldry
- Bananarama
- The Band
- The Bangles: After breaking up in 1989, they reformed in 1998, recording a song for the soundtrack of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (directed by Jay Roach, frontwoman Susanna Hoffs' husband). Though, longtime bassist Michael Steele would leave the group in 2005.
- Banda XXI
- Tony Banks
- Barenaked Ladies
- Gary Barlow
- Wild Willy Barrett. Released a pair of albums which saw him return to his genres' roots.
- Barón Rojo
- Basehead
- Shirley Bassey
- Bathory
- The Beach Boys
- 1992 - Summer in Paradise
- 1996 - Stars and Stripes Vol. 1
- Beastie Boys were just as big in the eighties, but the nineties saw them reinvent themselves. They also started to mature, with their humor being genuine instead of a Stealth Parody. Their two biggest hits, "Sabotage" and "Intergalactic", were released in this period.
- The Beatles: The (then-)three surviving members released a new album trilogy in 1995 and 1996, which included a couple previously-unreleased songs.
- 1995-6: The Beatles Anthology
- Beat Happening. An influential indie pop band of the 1980s. Released some of their greatest hits in 1991 and 1992.
- The Beautiful South
- Beck
- 1994 - Mellow Gold
- 1996 - Odelay
- Jeff Beck
- The Bee Gees
- Behemoth
- Bell Biv DeVoe: A spinoff group of New Edition consisting of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe; they quickly became major players in the R&B scene with their debut album Poison.
- Belle and Sebastian
- Belly
- Belphegor
- Pat Benatar
- Mitch Benn
- Better Than Ezra
- Bi-2: A Russian Alternative Rock band that was originally formed in 1988 but only became popular in the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s.
- Jello Biafra
- Big Audio Dynamite
- Big Big Train
- Big Country
- Big Daddy
- Big L
- Big Pun
- Bikini Kill
- Andrew Bird
- Billy Talent
- The Black Crowes
- Björk
- Clint Black
- The Black Eyed Peas
- Black Label Society
- Black Sabbath
- Mary J. Blige
- Blind Guardian
- Blind Melon
- blink-182
- Blondie
- Bloodhound Gang
- Blue Cheer
- Blue Man Group
- The Blue Nile
- Blue October
- Blue Öyster Cult
- Blues Traveler
- Bluetile Lounge
- The Bluetones
- Blur
- 1994 - Parklife
- Blut aus Nord
- Blutengel
- Bôa (UK)
- Boards of Canada
- Body Count
- 1992 - Body Count
- Eric Bogle
- Bohren & der Club of Gore
- Bolt Thrower
- Michael Bolton
- Bon Jovi
- Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. One of the most influential, and iconic rap groups in Hip-Hop history. And one of the best selling, if not THE best selling rap groups of all time. Their influence and style can be heard all the way into The New '10s with dozens of rappers utilizing their style to various degrees of success. Though their respect was hard to earn
- The Boo Radleys: their first record came out in 1990, their last (until a reunion in 2020) in 1999.
- Boredoms
- Boris
- Boston
- Botch
- David Bowie: Experienced a major artistic renaissance during this decade, attributed to a combination of the formation of Tin Machine in the waning years of the previous decade, a shift in sound away from mainstream pop rock, and an inward shift in focus, writing music for himself instead of for a set target audience; consequently, fans and critics generally consider this decade and the following two a silver age— sometimes even a second golden age— for Bowie's work.
- 1993 - Black Tie White Noise
- 1993 - The Buddha of Suburbia
- 1995 - 1. Outside
- 1997 - Earthling
- 1999 - 'hours...' (David Bowie Album)
- Bowling for Soup: Formed in 1994.
- Boy Meets Girl
- Boyz II Men, Kings of the prom anthem.
- 1991 - Cooleyhighharmony
- 1994 - II
- Boyzone
- Billy Bragg
- Glenn Branca
- Brandy
- Laura Branigan
- Toni Braxton
- Breaking Benjamin. Formed in 1998.
- Breed 77
- The Breeders
- The Brian Jonestown Massacre
- Bright Eyes: debuted in the 90s, had their breakthrough early in the next decade.
- Sarah Brightman
- Broadcast
- Broken Hope
- Garth Brooks:
- 1990 - No Fences
- 1999 - In the Life of Chris Gaines
- Meredith Brooks
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brotha Lynch Hung
- James Brown
- 1991 - Star Time
- Bobby Brown
- Jackson Browne
- Bill Bruford
- BT
- Michael Bublé
- BUCK-TICK
- Buckcherry
- Buckethead
- Jeff Buckley
- 1994 - Grace
- 1998 - Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk
- Buena Vista Social Club
- 1997 - Buena Vista Social Club
- Rodrigo Bueno
- Jimmy Buffett
- Built To Spill
- Brian Burton
- Burzum
- Bush
- Busta Rhymes
- Butthole Surfers: Debuted in the 80s, made their commercial breakthrough in this decade.
- Armin Van Buuren first found success with his 1995 track "Blue Fear" (though he didn't release a studio album until 2003).
- Buzzcocks
- Buzzoven
- Tracy Byrd
- David Byrne: Continued his solo career in this decade after the official breakup of Talking Heads in 1991; his music from this era was critically unpopular but is well-loved among Talking Heads fans.
- 1992 - Uh-Oh (David Byrne Album)
- 1994 - David Byrne (Album)
- 1997 - Feelings
- Cabaret Voltaire
- Cake
- John Cale
- Calexico
- Camel
- Cameo
- Tevin Campbell
- Candiria
- Candlemass
- Cannibal Corpse
- Jerry Cantrell
- Captain Jack
- Caparezza
- Capercaille
- Cap'n Jazz
- Caramell
- Caravan
- Carcass
- Cardiacs
- The Cardigans. The most successful of a 90s wave of Swedish alternative pop acts.
- "Cat Hairballs"
- Mariah Carey. One of the best selling artists of the decade. Debuting in 1990, she achieved the impressive feat of scoring a Billboard #1 hit in every calendar year of the decade. Her musical contributions included her 5-octave vocal range showcase, helping popularize rerecorded dance remixes (starting with "Dreamlover"), as well as the singer/rapper collaboration ("Fantasy" remix featuring O.D.B.). With her 6th studio album Butterfly, she switched her sound from adult contemporary to a more urban sound and it became a fan favorite. She also released a Christmas album in 1994 which boasts the holiday classic "All I Want For Christmas Is You."
- Belinda Carlisle
- Wendy Carlos
- Eric Carmen
- Aaron Carter
- Neko Case
- Johnny Cash. Made a significant comeback through his collaborations with Rick Rubin.
- Cat Power
- 1998 - Moon Pix
- Cathedral
- Catherine Wheel
- Cattle Decapitation
- Nick Cave. A relatively successful lead singer of the 1980s. Reached the peak of his popularity by 1996.
- 1994 - Let Love In
- 1996 - Murder Ballads
- Celestial Navigations
- Celtic Frost
- Cephalic Carnage
- Agnes Chan
- Jose Mari Chan
- Tracy Chapman
- Ray Charles
- Chas & Dave
- The Chasm
- Cheap Trick
- Louis Chedid released three albums during that decade: Zap, Ces Mots Sont Pour Toi and Répondez-Moi.
- The Chemical Brothers
- Cher
- Eagle Eye Cherry
- Neneh Cherry
- Kenny Chesney
- Mark Chesnutt
- Chevelle
- Chic
- Chicago
- The Chicks: Formed in 1989 as the Dixie Chicks.
- Choking Victim
- Christie Front Drive
- Chrome
- Chthonic
- Chumbawamba
- The Church
- Charlotte Church
- Cibo Matto
- Clan of Xymox
- CLANNAD
- Gilby Clarke
- 1994 - Pawnshop Guitars
- Eric Clapton
- 1994 - From the Cradle
- The Clark Sisters
- Petula Clark
- Clawfinger
- Otis Clay
- Johnny Clegg
- George Clinton
- Clutch
- Coal Chamber, one of the earliest Nu Metal bands.
- Bruce Cockburn
- Joe Cocker
- Cocteau Twins. An influential Dream Pop band of the 1980s, they reached the peak of their popularity in the early to mid 1990s.
- David Allan Coe
- Leonard Cohen
- 1992 - The Future
- Coil
- Cold
- Cold187um
- Cold Chisel
- Lloyd Cole
- Paula Cole
- Bootsy Collins
- Phil Collins: His solo career from the 1980s continued to thrive during this decade, though at the expense of his tenure with Genesis, and only several of his singles hit the Top 40 during this period. He also wrote music for Disney's Tarzan at the end of the decade.
- Collective Soul
- Color Me Badd (yeah you know you liked 'em)
- Alice Coltrane
- Shawn Colvin
- Sean Combs
- Commodores
- Common
- Compton's Most Wanted
- Conception
- Harry Connick Jr.
- Stompin' Tom Connors
- Converge
- Alice Cooper
- Imani Coppola
- Chris Cornell
- Cornershop
- Coroner
- The Corrs: An Irish band of siblings. While they achieved more mainstream success at the very beginning of the next decade, their run from the middle of this decade onwards is widely regarded as their best.
- Ferry Corsten
- Coolio
- Elvis Costello
- Counting Crows
- Covenant
- The Cowsills
- Cradle of Filth
- The Cramps
- The Cranberries
- Crash Test Dummies
- The Creatures
- Creed
- Crimson Glory
- David Crosby
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- Sheryl Crow
- Crowbar
- Crowded House Started in the 80s but released two successful albums in the 90s.
- 1993 - Together Alone
- David Crowder Band
- Crowsdell
- Crush 40
- The Cruxshadows
- Celia Cruz
- Cryptopsy
- The Cult
- Culture Club
- The Cure
- Current 93
- Curve
- Custard
- Cynic
- Cypress Hill
- 1993 - Black Sunday
- Billy Ray Cyrus
Musicians D-E
- D-A-D
- D'Angelo
- 1999 - Brown Sugar
- Cristina D'Avena
- D.O.A.
- D:Ream
- Da Brat
- Da Yoopers
- Daddy DJ
- Daddy Yankee
- Daft Punk
- 1997 - Homework
- Dick Dale
- Heather Dale
- Dälek
- Damn Yankees
- The Damned (Band)
- The Dandy Warhols
- Danger Danger
- Daniel Amos
- Danielson
- Danzig
- Dark Angel
- Dark Tranquillity
- The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets
- Darkthrone
- Miles Davis: Finished recording Live In Montreux with Quincy Jones in 1991, but died during the recording sessions for his final studio album Doo-Bop. Doo Bop was posthumously released in 1992, and Monreux later in 1993.
- 1992 - Doo-Bop
- 1998 - Panthalassa, an ambient album compiled by Bill Laswell.
- Dayton Family
- DC Talk
- Chris de Burgh
- De La Soul
- Deacon Blue
- Dead Can Dance
- The Dead Milkmen
- Dead or Alive
- Death
- Death Angel
- Death Cab for Cutie
- Death In June
- Deeds of Flesh
- Deep Purple
- Deerhoof
- Rick Dees
- Def Leppard
- Deftones
- Deicide
- Del Amitri
- Del Tha Funkee Homosapien
- Delerium
- Delirious. British Christian Rock band that debuted in 1992.
- Demilich
- Demolition Hammer
- Denki Groove
- John Denver: Recorded his last studio albums this decade. Died in 1997.
- Depeche Mode. A successful 1980's band, gained international stardom in 1990 and retained it by adopting elements of grunge from 1993 onwards.
- 1990 - Violator
- 1993 - Songs of Faith and Devotion
- 1997 - Ultra
- Descendents
- Destiny's Child
- 1999 - The Writing's on the Wall
- dEUS
- 1994 - Worst Case Scenario
- 1996 - In a Bar, Under the Sea
- 1999 - The Ideal Crash
- Devil Doll
- Devo
- Devourment
- Toshimitsu Deyama
- Neil Diamond
- Diamond Head
- Diamond Rio
- Dice
- Bruce Dickinson
- Bo Diddley
- Joe Diffie
- Ani DiFranco
- Digable Planets
- Digital Underground
- The Dillards
- The Dillinger Escape Plan
- Dimmu Borgir
- The Dingees
- Dinosaur Jr.. A 1980s band which had released albums through independent labels. Switched to a major label early in the decade, releasing most of their hits between 1991 and 1994.
- Ronnie James Dio
- Céline Dion. Her career started in the 1980s. But the 1990s was the height of her career.
- Dir en grey
- Dire Straits reformed and put out one final album before breaking up for good in 1995, after which frontman Mark Knopfler shifted focus to a smaller-scale but constantly active solo career.
- 1991 - On Every Street
- The Dirtbombs
- Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
- Discharge!
- Disciple
- Disco Inferno
- Discordance Axis
- Disembowelment
- Disgorge
- Dismember
- Dissection
- The Divine Comedy
- Divinyls
- DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince: Continued releasing material until 1994. Will Smith would go solo in 1997
- DJ Quik: After releasing a series of successful mixtapes, his debut album Quik Is The Name is released in 1991.
- DJ Shadow
- 1996 - Endtroducing.....
- DMX
- Dog Fashion Disco
- Dokken
- Thomas Dolby
- Fats Domino
- Pino Donaggio
- Donovan
- Jason Donovan: His success kept going on in the early 1990's globaly (except for Italy, North America, and Australia), until the time in 1992 where he sued a magazine for acussing him of lying about his sexuality, thus making his singing career go into a downfall
- The Doobie Brothers
- Down
- Dope
- Dorso
- Doug Anthony All Stars
- Dr. Alban
- Dr. Dre
- 1992 - The Chronic
- Dream Theater hit success in the early 1990s, cementing them as the leaders of Progressive Metal.
- 1992 - Images and Words
- 1999 - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
- Dropkick Murphys
- Dschinghis Khan
- The Dubliners
- Duran Duran – Though most identified with the '80s, they came back into prominence in mid-decade with...
- 1993 - Duran Duran – More often known as The Wedding Album to distinguish it from the group's 1981 debut album.
- Ian Dury and The Blockheads
- Dying Fetus
- Bob Dylan
- 1992 - Good as I Been to You
- 1997 - Time Out of Mind
- Andrew E.
- E-40
- E Nomine
- Eagles
- Steve Earle
- Earth
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sheena Easton
- Eazy-E
- Echo & the Bunnymen broke up early into this decade, only to reform in the second half, remaining active into the present day since then.
- Edge of Sanity
- Edguy
- Todd Edwards
- Eels
- 1996 - Beautiful Freak
- Eiffel 65
- Einstürzende Neubauten
- Elastica
- Electric Wizard
- Elio e le Storie Tese
- Missy Elliott
- Emergency Broadcast Network
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer
- Eminem burst into the music scene with his commercial debut album, The Slim Shady LP, giving Moral Guardians a reason to panic about rap again.
- 1999 - The Slim Shady LP
- Emperor
- En Vogue
- Enigma
- Brian Eno
- Enslaved
- Entombed
- Enya
- Epidemia
- EPMD
- Era
- The Eraserheads
- 1993 - Ultraelectromagneticpop
- Erasure
- Sertab Erener
- Eric B. & Rakim
- Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung
- Esham
- Gloria Estefan.
- Melissa Etheridge
- ETHS
- Europe
- Eurythmics. The 1980s duo reunited in 1999, releasing a new album.
- Faith Evans
- Sara Evans
- The Evaporators
- Eve (Rapper) released her first album in 1999.
- Eve 6
- Everclear
- Evergrey
- Everything but the Girl
- Excuse17
- Exhumed
- Extreme
- Exodus (Band)
- Eyehategod
Musicians F-G
- Failure
- Fairport Convention
- Faith No More, a band that would inspire countless bands to come.
- Marianne Faithfull
- Falco: Died in 1998.
- The Fall
- Die Fantastischen Vier
- Fantômas
- Art Farmer
- Mylene Farmer
- Fascinating Aïda
- Fastbacks
- Fatboy Slim
- The Fatima Mansions
- Faust
- Fear
- Fear Factory, an Industrial Metal band who served as one of the genre's Trope Codifiers.
- 1995 - Demanufacture
- Feeder
- Feist
- José Feliciano
- Brad Fiedel
- Fields Of The Nephilim
- Filter
- Finntroll
- The Fireman, an experimental duo consisting of Paul McCartney and music producer Youth, released their first two albums in 1993 and 1998, respectively.
- Fish
- Fishbone
- Fishmans
- Five
- Five For Fighting
- Five Iron Frenzy
- Flaming Lips. Formed in 1983. Achieved their first taste of mainstream success with their 1993 single "She Don't Use Jelly".
- 1999 - The Soft Bulletin
- The Flashbulb
- Fleetwood Mac
- Flipper
- Flipper's Guitar
- A Flock of Seagulls
- Flogging Molly
- The Flower Kings
- Ben Folds Five
- Luis Fonsi
- Foo Fighters: Dave Grohl's band after Nirvana.
- 1995 - Foo Fighters
- 1997 - The Colour and the Shape
- Forbidden
- Lita Ford
- Foreigner
- The Forgotten Rebels
- Fountains of Wayne
- The Four Freshmen
- Four Tops
- John Foxx
- Peter Frampton
- Aretha Franklin
- Kirk Franklin
- Kinky Friedman
- Robert Fripp
- Front 242
- Front Line Assembly
- John Frusciante
- Fugazi: Frontmen Ian and Guy trope-named "Emo" and "Straight Edge" before starting this Post-Punk band; were offered and refused the same major-label ticket as Nirvana, and fired Butch Vig after the success of Nevermind. Went on hiatus right around 9/11, marking the end of an era that began with their hit "Waiting Room" in 1989.
- 1990 - Repeater
- The Fugees
- 1996 - The Score
- Fun Lovin' Criminals
- Funker Vogt
- Hannah Fury
- Peter Gabriel
- 1992 - Us
- 1994 - Secret World Live
- GACKT
- Gaelic Storm
- Diamanda Galás
- Gamma Ray
- Gang of Four
- Gang Starr
- Galaxie 500. An influential Dream Pop band of the 1980s. Continued enjoying success to 1991.
- Garbage
- Leif Garrett: Had a brief Career Resurrection towards the end of this period, bleeding into the Turn of the Millennium. He also recorded and toured with the band Godspeed towards the end of the decade.
- The Gathering
- Genesis: The progressive rock legends released one last hit album before withering away thereafter, not helped by Phil Collins leaving the group mid-decade. Their final album, 1997's Calling All Stations (with new lead vocalist Ray Wilson) was unpopular both commercially and critically, and the band members choose to ignore it nowadays.
- 1991 - We Can't Dance
- 1997 - ...Calling All Stations...
- Lisa Germano
- The Get Up Kids
- Geto Boys, which spun off Scarface as a solo artist.
- Terri Gibbs
- Debbie Gibson
- Tyrese Gibson
- Gilberto Gil
- João Gilberto
- Vince Gill
- Dizzy Gillespie
- Gin Blossoms
- Girlschool
- Glassjaw
- Gary Glitter
- Gob
- God Dethroned
- Godflesh
- Godsmack
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor
- Gogol Bordello
- Golden Earring
- Die Goldenen Zitronen
- Goldie
- Gong
- Goo Goo Dolls
- Matthew Good
- Gordian Knot
- Gorgoroth
- Gorguts
- Grandaddy
- Amy Grant
- The Grateful Dead: Still performed as a band before the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995.
- Grave
- Grave Digger
- Gravediggaz
- David Gray
- Great Big Sea
- The Great Luke Ski
- Al Green
- Cee Lo Green
- Green Day: Achieved their first big burst of popularity in their original incarnation with Dookie.
- Green Jellÿ
- Grief
- Dave Grohl
- Guano Apes
- The Guess Who
- Guided by Voices. A rather obscure 1980s band, they gained critical acclaim and a notable fanbase in this decade.
- Guniw Tools
- Guns N' Roses
- 1991 - Use Your Illusion
- 1994 - Pawnshop Guitars, guitarist Gilby Clarke's debut solo album.
- Guy: Split in 1992 after several tumultuous behind the scenes issues with management and associates, and wouldn't fully reunite until the turn of the millennium.
- GWAR
Musicians H-J
- Steve Hackett
- Diana Haddad
- Haddaway: "What is love, baby don't hurt me...". Add him together with Dr. Alban, and you get this
.
- Nina Hagen
- Merle Haggard
- Half Man Half Biscuit
- Daryl Hall & John Oates
- Tom T. Hall
- Johnny Hallyday
- Ayumi Hamasaki
- HammerFall
- Hammers of Misfortune
- Herbie Hancock
- The Handsome Family
- Hanson
- Hanzel Und Gretyl
- Happy Mondays. A relatively successful 1980s band. Reached the peak of the popularity early in the decade and promptly crashed it into the ground shortly after, taking Factory Records with them.
- Hardline. A Hair Metal band that got a late start
- Françoise Hardy
- Corey Hart
- PJ Harvey
- 1992 - Dry
- 1993 - Rid of Me
- 1995 - To Bring You My Love
- 1998 - Is This Desire?
- Harvey Danger
- David Hasselhoff
- Hate
- Hate Eternal
- Hatebreed
- Juliana Hatfield
- The Haunted
- Havalina Rail Co.
- Screamin' Jay Hawkins
- Hawkwind
- Yoshiki Hayashi
- Hayden
- Isaac Hayes
- Ofra Haza
- Hazel
- Jeff Healey
- Imogen Heap
- Heart
- Heath
- Heaven 17
- Heaven's Gate
- Heavens To Betsy
- Heavy D, though debuting in 1987, his wave of success really took off in this decade.
- Hed PE
- Helium
- Hello! Project
- Helloween
- Helmet
- Helstar
- Hemorrhoy Rogers
- Hermética
- Ty Herndon
- Jacques Higelin
- Munetaka Higuchi
- Faith Hill
- Lauryn Hill
- HIM
- Unknown Hinson
- Susumu Hirasawa
- His Name Is Alive
- The Hives
- Allan Holdsworth
- Hole (Courtney Love's band)
- 1991 - Pretty on the Inside
- 1994 - Live Through This
- 1997 - My Body, The Hand Grenade
- 1998 - Celebrity Skin
- Hoobastank
- John Lee Hooker
- Hootie & the Blowfish
- Hooverphonic
- Haruomi Hosono
- House Of Krazees
- House of Pain
- Whitney Houston
- Glenn Hughes
- The Human League
- Human Nature
- Phyllis Hyman
- Hypocrisy
- I Hate Myself
- Ice Cube
- Ice-T
- Iced Earth
- Icehouse
- Idlewild
- Billy Idol: After the warmly-received Charmed Life in 1990, Idol followed it up with the critically-panned Cyberpunk three years later. His career never recovered.
- Enrique Iglesias debuted in '95 and hasn't stopped since.
- Illdisposed
- Natalie Imbruglia
- Immolation
- Immortal
- In Extremo
- In Flames
- Incubus
- Indian Summer
- Indigo Girls
- Information Society
- Inkubus Sukkubus
- Insane Clown Posse
- 1992 - Carnival of Carnage
- 1997 - The Great Milenko
- Insane Poetry
- INXS
- Iron Maiden
- Iron Savior
- Tomoaki Ishizuka
- Isis
- Yusuf Islam
- The Isley Brothers
- J.B.O.
- J Dilla - Made his debut in 1995.
- Jack Off Jill
- Alan Jackson
- Janet Jackson
- 1993 - janet.
- 1997 - The Velvet Rope
- Joe Jackson
- Michael Jackson: Still a million seller at the start of the decade, his reputation began to suffer from 1993 onwards due to allegations of child molestation.
- Millie Jackson
- Jad Wio
- Jag Panzer
- Jaga Jazzist
- Mick Jagger
- Los Jaivas
- JakProgresso
- Etta James
- Rick James
- Jamiroquai
- Jandek
- Jane's Addiction. A relatively successful band of the 1980s. Reached the peak of their career early in the decade before breaking up acrimoniously in 1991.
- Jean-Michel Jarre
- Jars of Clay
- Jawbox
- Jawbreaker
- Jay-Z also premiered with a classic album called Reasonable Doubt
- Wyclef Jean
- Jedi Mind Tricks
- Jefferson Starship
- Jellyfish
- Splinter acts: Imperial Drag, The Grays and Jason Falkner.
- Waylon Jennings
- The Jesus and Mary Chain
- The Jesus Lizard. An obscure 1980s band. Achieved cult status in this decade.
- Jethro Tull
- Joan Jett
- Jewel
- JFA
- Jim's Big Ego
- Antônio Carlos Jobim
- Jodeci: Debuted in 1991, and introduced Hip Hop Soul to the world.
- Billy Joel (debuted in The '60s, became a successful solo artist in The '70s, remained popular through The '80s and into the first half of this decade)
- Rogga Johansson
- Elton John. Debuted in the 1960s, but managed to score major hits within this decade.
- 1992 - The One
- 1994 - The Lion King (soundtrack album)
- 1995 - Made in England
- 1997 - The Big Picture
- Eric Johnson
- Daniel Johnston
- George Jones
- Quincy Jones
- Tom Jones
- Jorge Ben Jor
- Jerry Joseph
- Journey
- Joy Electric
- Juan Mutant
- Judas Priest: Released an album in 1990, then briefly went on hiatus upon Rob Halford's departure before finding a new lead vocal and releasing another in 1997.
- 1990 - Painkiller
- Cledus T. Judd
- Wynonna Judd
- The Judds
- Judge Dread
- Jungle Rot
Musicians K-L
- Kagrra
- The Kaisers
- Kamelot
- Kansas
- Kataklysm
- Katatonia
- Katrina and the Waves
- Toby Keith
- R. Kelly
- Kenickie
- Kent
- The Kentucky Headhunters
- Nik Kershaw
- Sammy Kershaw
- Kid 'N Play: Initially had some decent commercial success at the start of the decade, thanks to House Party, but their musical success came to an almost immediate halt in 1991, and they would eventually break up four years later.
- Kid Rock
- 1993 - The Polyfuze Method
- 1996 - Early Mornin' Stoned Pimp
- 1998 - Devil Without A Cause
- Kill Hannah
- Killing Joke
- Junior Kimbrough. Released first solo album in 1992. Died in 1998.
- B.B. King
- Carole King
- King Black Acid
- King's X
- King Crimson
- King Diamond
- King Missile
- The Kinks
- Leyland Kirby
- KISS
- 1992 - Revenge
- 1997 - Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions
- 1998 - Psycho Circus
- Kitchens of Distinction
- Eartha Kitt
- Kittens
- Los Kjarkas
- The KLF: Reached peak of their success early in this decade before leaving the music industry in 1992, and briefly re-emerged as 2K for the "Fuck The Millennium" single in 1997 after critiquing the art world as K Foundation, which involved the burning of a million pounds
.
- Klymaxx
- KMFDM
- The Knack
- Gladys Knight. First "official" solo album in 1991.
- Knorkator
- Frankie Knuckles
- Komar and Melamid
- 1997 - "The Most Unwanted Song"
- Kool & the Gang
- Kool Keith
- Kool Moe Dee
- Korn - The creators of Nu Metal, a controversial genre that defined rock music later in the decade.
- 1994 - Korn
- 1998 - Follow the Leader
- Kottonmouth Kings
- The Kovenant: A Norwegian melodic black metal band that shifted to Industrial Metal in 1999 after being forced to change their name from Covenant.
- 1997 - In Times Before the Light
- Alison Krauss & Union Station
- Lenny Kravitz
- Kreator
- Krisiun
- Kriss Kross
- KRS-One
- Die Krupps
- Kula Shaker
- Kuroyume
- Fela Kuti. Still active until his death in 1997.
- Kyuss. Influential in the "Stoner Rock"/"Stoner Metal" sub-genre, a fusion of Doom Metal and Psychedelic Rock.
- L7
- The La's
- Patti LaBelle. String of hits in the early 90's.
- Lacuna Coil
- Shawn Lane
- Cyndi Lauper
- Tracy Lawrence
- Lagwagon
- Laibach
- Lamb of God
- Lassie Singers
- The Lawrence Arms
- The Leather Nun
- Keith Le Blanc
- Leevi And The Leavings
- Legião Urbana, vocalist Renato Russo died in 1996 and the band released their last, posthumous album in 1997.
- Lemon Jelly
- Leningrad
- Leningrad Cowboys
- Annie Lennox, the Eurythmics' singer, began her solo career in 1992.
- Less Than Jake
- Leviathan
- Huey Lewis and the News
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- LFO
- Lifter Puller, "The last band before the internet."
- Gordon Lightfoot
- Lightning Bolt. Released their first recordings in 1999.
- Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz
- Lil' Kim
- Lighthouse Family
- The Lightning Seeds
- Limp Bizkit
- 1997 - Three Dollar Bill, Y'all$
- 1999 - Significant Other
- Liquid Tension Experiment
- Lit
- 1999 - "Miserable"
- Live. A relatively obscure 1980s band. Released most of their hits in this decade.
- Living Colour
- LL Cool J
- Little Feet
- Little Richard
- Lisa Loeb
- Kenny Loggins
- Loituma
- Lonestar
- Loop
- Jennifer Lopez. Debuted in 1999.
- Lords of Acid
- Los del Rio
- Lost Dogs
- Loudness
- Love
- Courtney Love. Hole's debut, Pretty on the Inside, was released in 1991.
- Mike Love
- 1996 - Catch A Wave
- 1998 - Salute NASCAR (with David Marks and Bruce Johnston)
- Love and Rockets
- Love/Hate
- Love Spirals Downwards
- Patty Loveless
- Loverboy
- Lyle Lovett
- Low
- Nick Lowe
- Arjen Anthony Lucassen
- 1995/1996/1998 - Ayreon (the first three albums of this eight part series)
- Lucybell
- Lucifer Luscious Violenoue
- Ludacris released his first album in 1999.
- Ludwig Von 88
- Luna Sea
- Luscious Jackson
- Lush
- Les Luthiers
- John Lydon
- Lyube
- 1992 - "Don't Play the Fool, America!"
Musicians M
- Macabre
- Kirsty Mac Coll
- Machine Head
- Craig Mack started in the 1980s, but he made his mark in 1994 with the Platinum single "Flava In ya Ear".
- Madness
- Madonna may have gotten her start in the 1980s, but her contribution to the 1990s music scene was also very important (explaining why she was one of the only pop artists to escape the genre's commercial nadir during this decade): she brought an underground dance craze to the forefront in 1990 with "Vogue," released one of the riskiest and most socially conscious albums of her career with Erotica, which dealt with topics including HIV/AIDS, homosexuality, sex and fetishes... and then near the end of the decade she reinvented her self yet again by releasing an album of electronica music that quickly cemented her status in the industry as an icon: Ray Of Light. The album touched on everything from death to rebirth to love to breakups to motherhood to religion and spirituality.
- 1990 - I'm Breathless
- 1990 - The Immaculate Collection
- 1992 - Erotica
- 1994 - Bedtime Stories
- 1998 - Ray of Light
- Magma
- The Magnetic Fields
- 1999 - 69 Love Songs
- Mägo de Oz
- Tim Maia. Died in 1998.
- Malice Mizer
- Malignancy
- Yngwie Malmsteen
- A Man Called Adam
- Man Or Astroman
- Manic Street Preachers
- Manilla Road
- Barry Manilow
- Mannheim Steamroller
- Manowar
- Marilyn Manson, the ultimate nemesis of the 1990's Moral Guardians
- 1994 - Portrait of an American Family
- 1995 - Smells Like Children
- 1996 - Antichrist Superstar
- 1998 - Mechanical Animals
- Biz Markie
- Mansun
- Marcy Playground
- Marduk
- Marillion
- Robin Mark
- Petra Marklund
- David Marks
- Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
- Lene Marlin
- Martha And The Muffins
- Max Martin
- Ricky Martin
- Sandy Marton
- John Martyn
- Richard Marx
- Massive Attack
- 1998 - Mezzanine
- Master P
- Matchbox Twenty
- Johnny Mathis
- Matmos
- Seiko Matsuda
- Hideto Matsumoto
- Yumi Matsutoya
- Kathy Mattea
- Dave Matthews Band
- maudlin of the Well
- Maximum the Hormone
- Maxwell
- Brian May
- Mayday
- Curtis Mayfield. Still active until his death in 1999.
- Mayhem
- Mazzy Star. Formed in 1989, reached their commercial peak in 1993 with "Fade Into You".
- MC Hammer, though he started recording and making hits in the late 1980s.
- Martina McBride
- Paul McCartney
- Neal McCoy
- Reba McEntire
- Bobby McFerrin
- Tim McGraw
- Loreena McKennitt
- Sarah McLachlan
- John McLaughlin
- Don McLean
- James McMurtry
- Brian McNeill
- MDC
- Meat Loaf
- Meat Puppets
- The Meatmen
- Mecano
- Megadeth
- 1990 - Rust in Peace
- John Mellencamp
- Melt-Banana, Yasuko Onuki's musical project, formed in 1991-1992
- Melvins
- The Men They Couldn't Hang
- Men Without Hats
- Mental As Anything
- The Mentors
- Menudo
- Franco De Vita
- Freddie Mercury: Died in 1991, but still had some posthumous hits.
- Merzbow
- Mercury Rev. Formed in the late 1980s. Achieved cult status during this decade.
- Meshuggah
- Jo Dee Messina
- Metal Church
- Metallica reinvented themselves in the early 1990s with the proto-grunge Black Album, followed by cutting their hair.
- 1991 - Metallica (Album)
- 1996 and 1997 - Load and ReLoad
- 1998 - Garage Inc.
- Pat Metheny
- Mew
- Michael Learns To Rock: Formed in 1988 and debut their first album in 1991. The Danish band was notoriously popular among South East Asians to this very day.
- George Michael
- 1990 - Listen Without Prejudice, Volume 1
- 1996 - Older
- Midnight Oil
- Midnight Syndicate
- The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
- MilkCan from Um Jammer Lammy
- 1999 - Make It Sweet!
- Mike + the Mechanics
- Steve Miller Band
- Milli Vanilli. The group's lip-syncing scandal in 1990 made pop music as a whole a dead genre for a good portion of the decade outside of the dance club scene.
- Ronnie Milsap
- Mindless Self Indulgence
- Mineral
- Ministry
- Kylie Minogue
- 1997 - Impossible Princess
- The Misfits
- The Mission
- Joni Mitchell
- Miyavi
- Moby
- 1999 - Play
- Modest Mouse
- The Moffats
- Mogwai
- Molotov
- Momus
- Monica
- The Monkees
- Monster Magnet
- John Michael Montgomery
- Montgomery Gentry
- The Moody Blues
- Mandy Moore
- Moonsorrow
- Moonspell
- Morbid Angel
- Morcheeba
- Lorrie Morgan
- Alanis Morissette
- 1995 - Jagged Little Pill
- Giorgio Moroder
- Morphine
- Morrissey. A popular 1980s singer and former frontman of The Smiths, he continued releasing hit albums until 1997.
- Neal Morse
- Mortification
- Mortiis. Debut album released in 1993.
- Mos Def
- Mötley Crüe
- Motörhead
- 1991 - 1916
- the Mountain Goats
- Moxy Früvous
- Moymoy Palaboy
- Mr. Big
- Mr. Bungle
- Mudhoney
- Münchener Freiheit
- The Muppets:
- 1993 - Muppet Beach Party
- 1994 - Kermit Unpigged
- 1995 - Sesame Street Platinum All Time Favorites
- Peter Murphy
- Muse. Formed in 1994. Their first album came out in 1999.
- Mushroomhead
- My Bloody Valentine. 1980s band, released their biggest album in 1991 and eventually went on hiatus in 1995.
- 1991 - Loveless
- My Dying Bride
- My Life Story
- Mýa. First album released in April 1998.
- Myzery
- N.W.A Formed in 1986.
Musicians N-P
- Nada Surf
- Naglfar
- Napalm Death. Debuted in the 1980s, but became the kings of Grindcore in the 1990s.
- Nas debuted with his classic album Illmatic
- 1994 - Illmatic
- Milton Nascimento
- Natas
- Natasja
- Naughty by Nature
- Nautilus Pompilius
- Necro
- Necrophagist
- Necrophobic
- Negativland
- Negură Bunget
- Willie Nelson
- Nena
- The Neptunes
- Nerf Herder
- Michael Nesmith
- Neuraxis
- Neurosis. Debuted in the 1980s, but did their most important work pioneering post-metal in the 1990s.
- Neutral Milk Hotel
- 1996 - On Avery Island
- 1998 - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
- Nevermore
- New Edition
- New Found Glory
- New Kids on the Block
- New Kingdom
- New Order: Started and were widely popular in the preceding decade, but continued to be active for the first few years of this decade, achieving their highest-charting hit in 1990 with "World in Motion". The band temporarily went on hiatus after releasing their one and only album in this decade due to Creative Differences and burnout from touring, before eventually reconvening in 1998.
- 1993 - Republic
- Electronic: Bernard Sumner's side project with Johnny Marr that was active and successful in the 90s Eurodance scene.
- New Radicals: Released only one album at the end of the decade, including their one hit "You Get What You Give" and the oft-covered "Someday We'll Know", before dissolving shortly after.
- Anthony Newley: Released one album, Too Much Woman in 1992, and died on April 14, 1999.
- Randy Newman
- Newsboys
- Olivia Newton-John
- Nickel Creek
- Nickelback
- Stevie Nicks
- Night Ranger
- Nightwish
- Nile
- Nine Inch Nails: Trent Reznor's one-man doomfest that John McCain famously pretended to like; started in the 80's, but achieved Reznor's biggest successes here.
- 1994 - The Downward Spiral
- 1999 - The Fragile
- Nirvana: Founded in the late 80s, they helped define the decade's sound in the early 90's before frontman Kurt Cobain committed suicide in 1994.
- 1991 - Nevermind
- 1992 - Incesticide
- 1993 - In Utero
- 1994 - MTV Unplugged in New York
- Kurt Cobain: Didn't have a solo career of his own, but (unwillingly) became the face of Generation X (the demographic, not the band) during this decade, even after his 1994 suicide.
- Nits
- Mojo Nixon
- No Doubt
- 1995 - Tragic Kingdom
- No Limit
- NOFX
- Nokturnal Mortum
- Nomeansno
- Nothingface
- The Notorious B.I.G.
- 1994 - Ready to Die
- 1997 - Life After Death
- Novembers Doom
- NOW That's What I Call Music! released albums throughout the 1990's.
- N Sync
- Nuclear Assault
- Ted Nugent
- Nujabes
- Gary Numan
- Nurse with Wound
- Laura Nyro
- Sinéad O'Connor
- Natalia O'Shea
- The Oak Ridge Boys
- Oasis: Hugely successful in their native Britain, they were to the UK music scene what Nirvana was to the US music scene. Their rise and fall during this decade directly coincided with the peak and downfall of Britpop in the 1990's.
- 1994 - Definitely, Maybe
- 1995 - (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
- 1997 - Be Here Now
- Oathean
- Conor Oberst: started his career in 1993.
- Obituary
- Occult
- Of Montreal
- The Offspring
- 1994 - Smash
- Oingo Boingo
- Okkervil River
- Babatunde Olatunji
- Old 97's
- Old Crow Medicine Show
- Mike Oldfield: Broke free from his restrictive contract with Virgin Records and signed onto WEA and Reprise Records at the start of this decade, shifting to a more electronic sound that would define most of his later output.
- 1992 - Tubular Bells II
- 1998 - Tubular Bells III
- OLIVIA
- The Olivia Tremor Control
- OMC
- Omega
- One Dove
- Yoko Ono
- Onkel Konkel and His Konkelbar
- Oomph!
- Operation Re-Information
- Opeth
- 1999 - Still Life
- The Orb
- Kristina Orbakaite
- Orbital
- Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
- Origin
- Riz Ortolani
- Joan Osborne
- Ozzy Osbourne
- John Otway
- Our Lady Peace
- The Outfield
- Outkast
- Outrage
- Overkill
- Buck Owens
- P.D.Q. Bach
- P.O.D.
- Jennifer Paige
- Pain
- Pain of Salvation
- Brad Paisley
- Pale Saints
- Panda Bear
- Pansy Division
- Pantera
- Papa Roach
- The Paper Chase
- Pappo
- Paradise Lost
- Parachute Express
- Pariah
- Sarina Paris
- Van Dyke Parks
- 1995 - Orange Crate Art (with Brian Wilson)
- Parokya ni Edgar
- Dolly Parton
- Pato Fu
- Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota
- Mike Patton
- Pavement
- Peaches
- Charlie Peacock
- Pearl Jam
- 1991 - Ten
- Ann Peebles
- Penguin Cafe Orchestra
- Pentagram
- Pepe Deluxé
- Pere Ubu
- Pestilence
- Pet Shop Boys
- Peter, Paul and Mary
- Red Peters
- Petra
- Tom Petty
- 1993 - "Mary Jane's Last Dance"
- Liz Phair
- 1993 - Exile in Guyville
- The Pharcyde
- Phish
- Pig Destroyer
- The Pillows
- Pink Cream 69
- Pink Floyd: Continued under the leadership of David Gilmour until their first break-up in 1995.
- 1994 - The Division Bell
- Pink Martini
- Pitch Shifter
- Pixies: A popular 1980s band, released a number of hits in 1990 and 1991 before breaking up (they would later reform during the next decade).
- Pizzicato Five
- Placebo
- Joel Plaskett
- Plumb
- PM Dawn
- Poe
- The Pogues
- Poison
- Pokémon got its start within this decade, and quickly grew big enough to get soundtrack albums of its own.
- 1999 - Pokémon 2.B.A. Master
- Basil Poledouris
- Barry Louis Polisar
- Polysics
- Iggy Pop
- Pop Will Eat Itself
- Porcupine Tree
- Portishead
- 1994 - Dummy
- The Posies: Power Pop revivalists from the land of grunge who put out a series of Alternative Rock hits through the decade.
- Powerman 5000
- Poxy Boggards
- Prefab Sprout
- The Presidents of the United States of America
- Pretenders
- Pretty Maids
- The Pretty Things
- Charley Pride
- Primal Fear
- Primal Scream. A relatively minor 1980s band, achieved first major hit in 1991.
- 1991 - Screamadelica
- 1997 - Vanishing Point
- Primordial
- Primus. A relatively obscure 1980s band, achieved first major hit in 1991.
- 1990 - Frizzle Fry
- 1991 - Sailing the Seas of Cheese
- 1995 - Tales From The Punchbowl
- Prince: Controversially changed his name to an unpronounceable "Love Symbol" in 1993 (to circumvent his contract with Warner (Bros.) Records, who owned the trademark to his given name) and would stick with it all the way until 2000. During this time, he was commonly referred to as "the artist formerly known as 'Prince'", a moniker so obtuse and prone to public mockery that it inspired its own trope.
- Los Prisioneros
- The Proclaimers: Popular in 1980s UK, achieved first major US hit in 1993.
- Procol Harum
- The Prodigy
- 1992 - Experience
- 1994 - Music For The Jilted Generation
- 1997 - The Fat of the Land
- Propaganda
- Prozzak - Debuted in 1998.
- The Psychedelic Furs
- Psychopathic Rydas
- Public Enemy
- 1990 - Fear of a Black Planet
- Public Image Ltd.
- Puddle of Mudd
- Tito Puente
- Puffy AmiYumi
- Alla Pugacheva
- Pulp: Formed in 1978. Achieved mainstream success in the mid-90s with the albums His n' Hers and Different Class.
- Pungent Stench
- Puya
Musicians P-R
- Quatermass II
- Suzi Quatro
- Queen: Went mostly dormant after their lead singer Freddie Mercury died in 1991, but achieved a still-ongoing second wave of mainstream popularity as a result of Mercury's death.
- 1991 - Innuendo – The group's final album during Mercury's lifetime.
- 1995 - Made in Heaven - Made from Mercury's final recordings
- Queen Latifah
- Queens of the Stone Age
- Queensrÿche
- Quiet Riot
- The Radiators
- Radioactive Chicken Heads
- Radiohead: Formed in the middle of the previous decade as On a Friday, signed onto Parlophone Records and adopted the "Radiohead" moniker in 1991; started releasing music one year later, but didn't hit it big until the mid-to-late 1990's, as Britpop and electronica took over from grunge.
- 1993 - Pablo Honey
- 1995 - The Bends
- 1997 - OK Computer
- Rage (Band)
- Rage Against the Machine
- Gerry Rafferty
- Rain Tree Cow
- Rainbow
- Bonnie Raitt
- Les Rallizes Dénudés
- Rammstein
- Ramones: Released several comeback albums, winning over some Generation X fans, before splitting up mid-decade.
- Rancid
- The Rasmus
- Rasputina
- Rata Blanca
- Ratt
- Ray J
- Collin Raye
- Red Hot Chili Peppers, Been around since The '80s but exploded in the 1990s.
- 1991 - Blood Sugar Sex Magik (their breakout album)
- 1999 - Californication (their comeback album)
- Red House Painters
- 1996 - Songs for a Blue Guitar
- Rednex
- Lou Reed
- Reel Big Fish
- Refused
- R.E.M.: perennial musical innovator through the 1980's, kicked off the rise of Alternative Rock at the start of the 1990's. After suffering a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 1995, drummer Bill Berry left the group in 1997 for personal reasons, but urged bandmates Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, and Mike Mills to carry on as a 3-man ensemble. Split in 2011 on amicable terms.
- 1991 - Out of Time
- 1992 - Automatic for the People
- 1994 - Monster
- 1996 - New Adventures in Hi-Fi
- 1998 - Up
- 1999 - Man on the Moon
- La Renga
- REO Speedwagon
- The Replacements: Released their final studio album, All Shook Down, in 1990 before splitting up. The band would later reform in The New '10s.
- The Residents: Still going strong since the 1970s.
- Restless Heart
- Graeme Revell
- The Reverend Horton Heat
- The Revolutionary Hydra
- Rhapsody of Fire
- Cliff Richard
- Keith Richards
- Lionel Richie
- Jonathan Richman
- Ride
- Riders In The Sky
- Riff
- Right Said Fred
- LeAnn Rimes
- The Rippingtons
- Right Said Fred
- Bob Rivers
- Robyn
- Kenny Rogers
- The Rolling Stones: Still going strong since the 1960s, with one line-up change (Bill Wyman quitting in 1993).
- 1994 - Voodoo Lounge
- 1997 - Bridges to Babylon
- Henry Rollins
- Max Romeo
- Linda Ronstadt
- The Roots. Released their debut studio album, Organix in 1993.
- 1993 - Organix
- Rosa De Saron
- Diana Ross
- David Lee Roth
- Rotting Christ
- David Rovics
- Roxette
- 1991 - Joyride
- Jordan Rudess
- Run–D.M.C.
- Todd Rundgren
- Runforyerlife
- Running Wild
- Kate Rusby
- Rush
- 1991 - Roll the Bones
- 1993 - Counterparts
- 1996 - Test for Echo
- Russya
- The Rutles
Musicians S
- S Club 7
- Leticia Sabater
- Sade
- Saga
- Saint Etienne
- Saint Vitus
- Buffy Sainte-Marie
- Ryuichi Sakamoto
- Saliva
- Salt-N-Pepa
- Pharoah Sanders
- Sandy & Junior
- Santana: The veteran band experienced a resurgence of popularity and critical acclaim, scoring brand new hits by the end of the decade.
- Carlos Santana
- Sarcofago
- Peter Sarstedt
- Joe Satriani
- Satyricon
- Savage Garden
- Savatage
- 1991 - Streets: A Rock Opera
- 1994 - Handful of Rain
- 1995 - Dead Winter Dead
- 1998 - The Wake of Magellan
- Saves the Day
- Saviour Machine
- Les Savy Fav
- Saxon
- Scarface
- Scatman John
- Schandmaul
- Schoolly D
- Markus Schulz: First began DJing in 1990, with much of his early portfolio consisting of remixes of other artists on this page. Released his first singe, "You Won't See Me Cry", in 1998.
- Klaus Schulze
- Peter Schilling
- Scooter
- Scorpions
- Gil Scott-Heron
- Screeching Weasel
- Scritti Politti
- Joe Scruggs
- Seal
- Dan Seals
- The Seatbelts
- Neil Sedaka
- Bob Seger
- Seikima II
- Selena
- Sentenced
- Septicflesh
- Sepultura
- 1996 - Roots
- Sesame Street
- Sevendust
- Sha Na Na
- Shadows Fall
- Shakira. Debuted in 1991. First hit album in 1996.
- 1995 - Pies descalzos
- 1996 - "Pies descalzos, sueños blancos"
- 1998 - ¿Dónde están los ladrones?
- Tupac Shakur
- 1991 - 2Pacalypse Now
- 1993 - Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...
- 1995 - Me Against the World
- 1996 - All Eyez on Me
- 1996 - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory (First posthumous release, but was finished before his murder).
- Ravi Shankar
- Paul Shapera
- Sonny Sharrock. Died of a heart attack in 1994.
- 1991 - Ask the Ages
- SHAZNA
- Sheila on 7
- Shellac
- Shenandoah
- Shiina Ringo
- Shonen Knife
- Sia has been active in the music industry since 1993, but she was effectively ignored in the mainstream until 2012.
- Sick Puppies
- Kuba Sienkiewicz
- Sigh
- Sigur Rós
- 1999 - Ágætis byrjun
- Silencer
- Silver Jews
- Silverchair
- Carly Simon
- Paul Simon
- Nina Simone
- Jessica Simpson. Debuted in 1999.
- Frank Sinatra: Released his final two albums, the collaborative Duets and Duets II, before retiring in 1995 and dying three years later.
- Nancy Sinatra: Released four albums between 1995 and 1999.
- Siouxsie and the Banshees. 1970s group. Released some of their greatest hits in this decade.
- Simple Minds. Started in 1977 and peaked in the '80s. Still popular in Europe.
- Sir Mix-A-Lot liked Big Butts and could not lie.
- The Sisters of Mercy. An influential Goth Rock band of the 1980s. Released another well-received album in 1990.
- Six Feet Under
- Sixpence None the Richer
- Skepticism
- Skid Row
- Skillet
- Skinless
- Skinny Puppy
- Skunk Anansie
- Skyclad
- Slade
- Slapp Happy
- Slapshock
- Slash: His side band Slash's Snakepit released a first album
- Slayer
- Sleater-Kinney
- Sleep
- Slick Rick
- Slint. Started and released their first album during the 1980's, and released their second, final, and most acclaimed album in 1991 before disbanding (an untitled EP consisting of two outtakes from their first album was released three years later). Their second album, alongside Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock by Talk Talk, is widely considered a Trope Maker for Post-Rock as defined today.
- 1991 - Spiderland
- Slipknot
- 1999 - Slipknot
- Sloan
- Slough Feg
- Slowdive
- Smash Mouth
- The Smashing Pumpkins
- 1993 - Siamese Dream
- 1995 - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
- 1998 - Adore
- Elliott Smith
- Patti Smith
- Tom Smith
- Will Smith: Offically went solo in 1997 after the dissolution of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.
- Smoking Popes
- Sneaker Pimps
- Snoop Dogg
- Snot
- Snow Patrol
- Social Distortion
- Sodom
- Soilwork
- Solstice
- Son Volt
- Sonata Arctica
- Sonic Youth. A relatively successful Alternative Rock band of the 1980s. Switched to a major record label in 1990, reaching a much larger audience than before.
- Jill Sobule
- Sonique
- Sopor Æternus & the Ensemble of Shadows
- Soul Asylum: Formed in 1983. Reached their commercial peak in 1992 and continued making music throughout the rest of the decade and beyond.
- Soul Coughing
- Soulfly
- Soulwax
- Soundgarden: 1994's Superunknown was their biggest album. They broke up in 1997 due to creative differences, and eventually reformed in 2011; however, frontman Chris Cornell would commit suicide in 2017.
- Space
- 1996 - Spiders
- Spacemen 3
- Sparklehorse
- Sparks
- Britney Spears
- The Specials
- Spice Girls. The explosive success of "Wannabe" helped revive pop music after half-a-decade of stagnation.
- Spin Doctors
- Spiritualized
- S.P.O.C.K
- Spock's Beard
- Sponge
- Spoon
- Dusty Springfield
- Rick Springfield
- Bruce Springsteen
- Squarepusher
- Squeeze
- Billy Squier
- St Germain
- Staind
- Starflyer 59
- Ringo Starr
- Static X
- The Statler Brothers
- Status Quo
- Steeleye Span
- Steps
- Stereolab
- Stereophonics
- Ray Stevens
- Al Stewart
- John Stewart
- Rod Stewart
- 1991 - Vagabond Heart
- Stiff Little Fingers
- Sting. Continued the successful solo career he started in the 1980s.
- Stock Aitken Waterman
- Doug Stone
- The Stone Roses
- Stone Temple Pilots
- Stormlord
- Stormtroopers of Death
- George Strait
- The Stranglers
- Stratovarius
- Stray Cats
- Barbra Streisand
- The String Cheese Incident
- Stryper
- Styx
- Sublime
- Subway to Sally
- Suede
- Suffocation
- Sugababes
- Sugar Ray
- The Sugarhill Gang
- Sugizo
- Suicidal Tendencies
- Suicide
- Suid Akr A
- Donna Summer
- Summoning
- Sun Ra
- 1993 - Space Is the Place (soundtrack album)
- The Sundays
- Øystein Sunde
- Sunn O)))
- Sunny Day Real Estate. Considered the Trope Codifier for Emo Music
- 1994 - Diary
- Sunscreem
- Super Furry Animals
- Superchunk
- Supertramp
- Bill Sutton
- Swans: Released increasingly experimental music throughout this decade, culminating in Soundtracks for the Blind (1996). They broke up the following year, with Michael Gira forming the band Angels of Light and Jarboe continuing her solo career. Swans would later reform in 2010.
- 1996 - Soundtracks for the Blind
- Matthew Sweet. Released his biggest album in 1991, continued to release music throughout the decade.
- Sweet Trip
- Switchfoot
- David Sylvian
- Symphony X
- System of a Down. Although most associated with the 2000s, this band formed in the middle of this decade and released their first album in 1998.
- 1998 - System of a Down
Musicians T
- Taake
- John Tabacco
- Take That (Band)
- Yukihiro Takahashi
- Akira Takasaki
- Takeo Ischi
- Mariya Takeuchi
- Talking Heads: Had already unofficially disbanded in 1988, but still put out one last single, "Sax and Violins", in 1991 before publicly confirming their dissolution that same year. Before that, they also completed some new tracks (based on old studio outtakes) for the 1992 Greatest Hits Album Sand in the Vaseline and its European counterpart Once in a Lifetime; of these, "Lifetime Piling Up" was released as a post-breakup single to promote the compilations.
- Talk Talk. Started and were most popular during the 1980's, released their final and most acclaimed album in 1991 before disbanding. Said album and its 1988 predecessor are now recognized as the starting point of Post-Rock as commonly defined today (alongside Spiderland by Slint, released the same year).
- 1991 - Laughing Stock
- Frontman Mark Hollis briefly reemerged in public to release a self-titled solo album in 1998, going back into retirement immediately afterwards.
- 1998 - Mark Hollis
- Tangerine Dream
- Tankard
- Tankcsapda
- Tarot
- James Taylor
- Mick Taylor
- The Tea Party
- Tears for Fears: Curt Smith quit the band in 1991 and wouldn't return until the very start of the next decade, leading Roland Orzabal to put out two studio albums and one non-album single himself under the Tears For Fears name.
- 1993 - Elemental
- 1995 - Raoul and the Kings of Spain
- TechN9ne
- Teenage Fanclub. Formed in 1989, released their first album one year later.
- Tegan & Sara
- Television
- The Temptations
- Tequilajazzz
- Bryn Terfel
- Tesla
- Testament
- Thalia
- The The
- Theatre of Tragedy
- Therapy
- Therion
- They Might Be Giants. A relatively successful 1980s band, achieved their greatest popularity early in the decade.
- 1990 - Flood (They Might Be Giants)
- 1992 - Apollo 18
- 1994 - John Henry
- 1996 - Factory Showroom
- 1999 - Long Tall Weekend
- J.G. Thirlwell
- Irma Thomas
- Richard Thompson
- Yann Tiersen
- The Tiger Lillies
- TISM
- Thievery Corporation
- Third Eye Blind
- This Mortal Coil
- 1991 - Blood
- Thor
- Thousand Foot Krutch
- Three 6 Mafia (aka Triple 6 Mafia)
- Throwing Muses
- Thrush Hermit
- Thursday
- Tiamat
- Tiësto
- Timbaland
- Pam Tillis
- Tiny Tim: Continued performing and touring until his death in 1996.
- The Time: Released Pandemonium in 1990'', and mostly became a touring act until releasing new music in the 2010s.
- Aaron Tippin
- TLC debuted in this decade and would release three albums, the third of which would be their last as a complete group.
- 1994 - CrazySexyCool
- T.M.Revolution
- TNT
- Toad the Wet Sprocket
- Tocotronic
- Tokyo Yankees
- Tom Tom Club
- Tommy Tutone
- Tones On Tail
- Too $hort
- tool debuted in 1990, but took off in the early part of the decade with Undertow and Aenima
- Die Toten Hosen
- Toto
- Tourniquet
- Allen Toussaint
- Devin Townsend
- 1997 - Ocean Machine: Biomech
- Toy-Box
- Toy Dolls
- Traffic. Made a one-off touring appearance and had one more studio album in 1994.
- The Tragically Hip
- Train
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- Trans-X
- Trapt
- The Traveling Wilburys
- Travis formed in 1990 and released their first album in 1997.
- Randy Travis
- Treble Charger
- Tricky. Contributed rhymes and production to Massive Attack's first two records, Blue Lines and Protection. Released his debut single and album in 1995.
- 1995 - Maxinquaye
- Tripod
- Tristania
- Travis Tritt
- Trout Fishing In America
- Viktor Tsoi: Died in a car accident before his band Kino released their final Self-Titled Album.
- TSOL
- Tanya Tucker
- Turbonegro
- Tina Turner
- Shania Twain
- Conway Twitty
- Twiztid
- Bonnie Tyler
- Type O Negative
Musicians U-Z
- U2 reinvented themselves into futuristic techno-alternative-rockers and continued in that direction for the rest of the decade.
- 1991 - Achtung Baby
- 1993 - Zooropa
- 1997 - Pop
- UB40
- UFO
- UGK
- Ugly Kid Joe
- James Blood Ulmer
- Ultravox
- Ulver
- Uncle Bonsai
- Uncle Tupelo
- Underoath
- Underworld
- 1994 - dubnobasswithmyheadman
- Unearth
- Univers Zero
- UNKLE
- Unleashed
- Unwound
- Keith Urban
- Urban Dance Squad
- Midge Ure
- Uriah Heep
- Hikaru Utada: Only made her debut in 1998, but her debut album First Love became the best-selling album of the decade (and of all time) in Japan.
- 1999 - First Love
- Utah Saints
- Usher (The Justin Bieber of his time, particularly noticable with their friendship, and his mentoring of the latter)
- V6
- V8
- Vader. Formed in 1983, debut album released in 1992.
- Steve Vai
- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
- Van Halen: The latter half of the Sammy Hagar-led tenure, plus the 1998 album nobody talks about
- Townes Van Zandt
- Luther Vandross: Got started in the early '80s but continued to release albums until 2003.
- Vangelis
- Vanilla Ice
- Giorgio Vanni
- Varttina
- Stevie Ray Vaughan: Had one album with his brother Jimmie in 1990 before dying in a helicopter crash.
- Vazelina Bilopphøggers
- Ved Buens Ende
- Suzanne Vega
- The Velvet Underground: Held a reunion tour throughout Europe in 1993, which produced a Live Album.
- Venetian Snares
- Vengaboys
- Venom
- Verdena
- Vertical Horizon
- Veruca Salt
- The Verve
- Vio-lence
- Violent Femmes
- Virgin Black
- Vision Divine
- VNV Nation
- Voivod
- Voltaire
- Jasmin Wagner
- Bunny Wailer
- Rufus Wainwright
- Tom Waits
- 1992 - Bone Machine
- 1993 - The Black Rider
- 1999 - Mule Variations
- Rick Wakeman
- Clay Walker
- Scott Walker
- The Wallflowers: Formed in 1989; reached their commercial peak in 1996.
- War (Band)
- Steve Wariner
- Warrant
- Dionne Warwick
- Was (Not Was)
- WASP
- 1992 - The Crimson Idol
- Roger Waters
- 1992 - Amused to Death
- Jody Watley
- Johnny "Guitar" Watson. Died in 1996.
- Jeff Wayne
- Jason Webley
- Ween. Formed in the 1980s, began releasing full-length albums and gained most of their fame in this decade.
- 1990 - GodWeenSatan: The Oneness
- 1991 - The Pod
- 1992 - Pure Guava
- 1997 - The Mollusk
- Weezer
- 1994 - Weezer (The Blue Album)
- 1996 - Pinkerton
- Wendy & Lisa
- Westlife
- Barry White
- The White Stripes
- Whitehouse
- Whitesnake
- The Wiggles - Got their start in 1991 releasing cassettes and performing at preschools. By 1998 they were one of Australia's biggest exports.
- Wilco
- David Wilcox
- Kim Wilde
- The Wildhearts
- Don Williams
- Lucinda Williams
- Paul Williams
- Robbie Williams
- Vanessa Williams
- Hank Williams Jr.
- Hank Williams III
- Wesley Willis
- Mark Wills
- Brian Wilson
- 1991 - Sweet Insanity
- 1995 - I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
- 1998 - Imagination
- The Paley Sessions - a series of sessions with Andy Paley that made their way to a series of bootlegs.
- Wilson Phillips
- Winger
- Steve Winwood
- Wire. 1970s band, managed a comeback early in the decade.
- Within Temptation
- Lee Ann Womack
- Stevie Wonder
- Chris Wood
- The World/Inferno Friendship Society
- Wormed
- Chely Wright
- Wu-Tang Clan, the ultimate hip-hop supergroup.
- The Wurzels
- Wuthering Heights
- X (US Band)
- X Japan
- Xscape (Group)
- XTC
- Xzibit - Released his debut album, At the Speed of Life, on October 15, 1996. Made guest appearances on other songs in 1995.
- "Weird Al" Yankovic: Experienced a creative and public resurgence during this decade following a brief personal slump between 1989 and 1991, and remained active well into The New '10s.
- 1992 - Off the Deep End
- 1993 - Alapalooza
- 1996 - Bad Hair Day
- 1999 - Running with Scissors
- Trisha Yearwood
- Yello
- Yellow Magic Orchestra: Regrouped and put out their most recent studio album this decade. Are still technically active, but have mainly focused on touring and side-projects.
- 1993 - Technodon
- Yellowcard
- Yes: Had a final album with any RIAA certification with Union; also made the theme to the 1999 computer game Homeworld.
- Yousei Teikoku
- Yo-Yo
- Yo La Tengo
- Dwight Yoakam
- Neil Young
- YUP
- Zao
- Zapp & Roger
- Frank Zappa: Was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in 1990 and devoted the rest of his life towards tying up loose ends and composing one final masterpiece; he died in 1993, but managed to finish the album before then— it was released the year after his passing. Releases during his final years consisted solely of live albums, two of which were taken from his final tour in 1988.
- 1991 - The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
- 1991 - Make a Jazz Noise Here
- 1993 - The Yellow Shark
- 1994 - Civilization Phaze III
- 1996 - Läther
- Zebrahead (Band)
- Bertine Zetlitz
- Warren Zevon
- The Ziggens
- Rob Zombie - White Zombie started in 1985, made their major label debut in 1992. Rob Zombie would later release his debut solo album in 1998 and split White Zombie a month later.
- The Zombies
- John Zorn: Highly eclectical and impossible to pigeonhole artist, mostly active in jazz, though his gigantic catalogue has tried out various genres and styles throughout the years.
- 1993 - Radio
- 1998 - Music for Children
- Zoviet France
- Zucchero
- ZZ Top