When thinking about the most successful artists of the 80s, there are some names that come to mind immediately. Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince, and Whitney Houston are all examples of musicians who had massive success in the 80s. But they weren’t the only ones. There were many other artists who achieved great things in the 1980s. In this blog post, we will take a look at the top 10 most successful artists of the 80s.
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is inarguably one of the most successful artists of the 80s. They have sold over 130 million records and have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Bon Jovi is best known for their hits “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.”
Bon Jovi has continued to go on tour and release new music in the years since the 80s.
Phil Collins
English drummer, singer, and songwriter Phil Collins rose to fame as a member of the rock band Genesis before pursuing a successful solo career in the 1980s.
He’s one of the most commercially successful artists of all time, with more than 150 million records sold worldwide.
During his solo career, Collins released eight studio albums, including the multi-platinum hits No Jacket Required and But Seriously.
He also wrote, performed, and produced songs for the Disney film Tarzan, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
In addition to his musical achievements, Collins is also recognized for his charitable work, particularly his efforts to help children in need through his philanthropic organization, The Little Dreams Foundation.
Madonna
Madonna was one of the most successful artists of the 1980s. She released her debut album in 1983, and it quickly catapulted her to stardom.
After a decade of her career, she released a string of hits, including “Like a Virgin,” “Papa Don’t Preach,” and “Like a Prayer.” Madonna also ushered in a new era of pop stardom with her bold persona and outrageous fashion.
She became known as the “Material Girl,” and her image was frequently copied by other female pop stars.
By the end of the 80s, Madonna had firmly established herself as one of the world’s biggest celebrities.
Michael Jackson
Born in 1958, Michael Jackson was one of the most successful artists of the 1980s. He released a series of chart-topping albums that included Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad.
Jackson’s distinctive voice and innovative dance moves made him a global superstar, and his videos for songs like “Beat It” and “Billie Jean” were MTV staples.
Jackson’s success continued into the 1990s with the release of Dangerous and HIStory, but his personal life became increasingly tabloid fodder, tarnishing his image.
In spite of this, Jackson remains one of the best-selling artists of all time, with an estimated 350 million records sold worldwide.
Bruce Springsteen
No other artist defined the 1980s quite like Bruce Springsteen. His anthemic songs about working-class life struck a chord with millions of Americans, and his albums Born in the U.S.A. and Darkness on the Edge of Town became two of the best-selling records of the decade.
Springsteen also won multiple Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
In addition to his commercial success, Springsteen is also widely acclaimed for his songwriting and live performances. He continues to tour regularly, and his concerts are typically two-and-a-half to three hours long.
In short, Bruce Springsteen is one of the most successful artists of the 1980s, both commercially and artistically.
Whitney Houston
One of the most prominent artists of the 80s was Whitney Houston. She was a pop singer who released several hit songs, including “Saving All My Love for You” and “How Will I Know.” Her debut album, Whitney Houston, was a huge success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
She continued to RELEASE successful albums throughout the ’80s and early ’90s, selling over 200 million records worldwide. In addition to her musical career, Houston also starred in several films, including The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.
She was among the most popular and well-loved celebrities of her generation, and her death in 2012 came as a shock to fans around the world.
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie is a singer, songwriter, and record producer who achieved success in the 1980s with a series of hit songs, including “Endless Love,” “Lady,” and “All Night Long.”
His debut album, Lionel Richie, was a commercial success, spawning a number of hit singles.
Richie’s follow-up album, Can’t Slow Down, was even more successful, selling over twenty million copies and earning him a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Throughout his career, Richie has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is a legendary figure in the world of pop music. She first came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, and her career took off in the 1960s with a string of hits, including “River Deep, Mountain High” and “Proud Mary.”
In the 1970s, Turner embarked on a solo career, scoring a series of hits, including “What’s Love Got to Do with It” and “Private Dancer.”
By the end of the decade, she had established herself as one of the world’s top performers, and she continued to enjoy success in the 1980s with hits like “We Don’t Need Another Hero” and “The Best.”
In total, Tina Turner sold more than 100 million records during her career, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time.
She was eventually inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, and she remains an iconic figure in popular music.
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart is among the most successful artists of the 80s. He has sold over 250 million records and has had several numbers one hit.
He’s a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards, including Grammy Awards and Brit Awards.
Stewart’s career began in the ’60s with the release of his debut album: An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down. Since then, he has released various successful albums and singles, cementing his place as one of the most successful musicians of his generation.
In the 80s, Stewart enjoyed particular success with the release of his album Out of Order, which topped the charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Thanks to his immense talent and enduring popularity, Rod Stewart is widely considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time.
Prince
When it comes to the most successful artists of the 1980s, there is one clear standout: Prince.
During the decade, Prince released a string of hit albums that cemented his place as one of the biggest stars in the world. From “Purple Rain” to “Sign o’ the Times,” Prince’s music was both popular and influential, helping to shape the sound of the 80s.
In addition to his commercial success, Prince was also a critical favorite, earning widespread acclaim for his innovative approach to music.
From his unique blend of genres to his unforgettable live performances, Prince left a lasting mark on the world of pop music. There is no doubt that he is one of the most successful artists of the 1980s.