The Best 90s Pop Music Artists

Looking for a blast from the past? Check out our list of the best 90s pop music artists! From Britney Spears to NSYNC, these 90s superstars will have you dancing all night long!

Introduction

The 1990s was a great decade for pop music. Many new artists emerged and rose to popularity, and some established artists continued to produce great music. This list seeks to recognize the best pop music artists of the 1990s.

There are many different ways to define “best.” This list is based on a combination of popularity, critical acclaim, and personal preference. In order to be eligible for this list, an artist must have released at least one album in the 1990s.

Some of the artists on this list may not strictly be considered “pop” musicians, but they are included because their music was popular during the 1990s.

The list is in alphabetical order.

Mariah Carey

After Whitney Houston’s death in early 2012, Mariah Carey became the best-selling female artist of all time with sales of over 200 million records. She is also the only artist in history to have a number one single in every decade since the 1980s. Carey has had 18 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, more than any other solo artist. She is also the only female artist to have five number one singles from one album (her album Daydream).

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston was one of the most successful pop music artists of the 1990s. She released several hit albums, including her debut album Whitney Houston, which became the best-selling album by a female artist in history. Houston’s other albums included I’m Your Baby Tonight, My Love Is Your Love, and Just Whitney. She also had several chart-topping singles, including “I Will Always Love You” and “Exhale (Shoop Shoop).”

Madonna

Madonna Louise Ciccone (/tʃɪˈkoʊni/; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer-songwriter, actress and businesswoman. Referred to as the “Queen of Pop” since the 1980s, Madonna is known for pushing the boundaries of songwriting in mainstream popular music and for the visuals she uses onstage and in music videos. She has frequently reinvented her music and image while maintaining autonomy within the recording industry. Although having triggered controversy, her works have been praised by music critics. Honorary titles include the “World’s Most Successful Female Recording Artist” of all time by Guinness World Records (2008), “Label of the Year” by Billboard (2015), recipient of Game Changer Award by The Cue awards (2019) and inclusion in multiple annual polls by VH1 and Billboard. After signing with Sire Records in 1982, Madonna became a sensation with her eponymous debut album (1983). Would-be imitators followed throughout the 1980s who drew inspiration from her innovative blend of Latin pop, dance-rock, fashion sense and sexual persona. Following numerous successful albums throughout the 1990s–2000s such as Bedtime Stories (1994), Ray of Light (1998), Music (2000), Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005); she has achieved commercial success on an international scale with her album sales. Supported by three world tours—Who’s That Girl World Tour (1987), Blond Ambition World Tour (1990) and Confessions Tour—Madonna established herself as a leading touring female artist of all time.

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Called the “King of Pop”, his contributions to music and dance, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time. His other albums, including Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995), also rank among the world’s best-selling.He traveled the world attending events honoring his work, and won numerous awards. Through stage and video performances, Jackson popularized a number of complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, to which he gave the name. His sound and style have influenced artists of various genres.

Born in Gary, Indiana, and raised in Los Angeles, California, Jackson debuted on the professional music scene at age five as a member of The Jackson 5, then the lead singer of the group from 1971 onwards. In 1983, while at Motown Records Jackson released Thriller which became one of the world’s best-selling albums. With videos for singles such as “Billie Jean”, “Beat It”, and “Thriller”, he became known as a pop icon worldwide. Jackson signed with Sony’s Epic Records label in 1991; later that year Bad was released which produced hits “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, “Bad”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Man in the Mirror” and ended up becoming one of the best-selling albums ever with sales estimated at 65 million copies worldwide. In 1996 he launched The HIStory World Tour which grossed over 750 million dollars becoming one of history’s most successful tours ever. In December 2009 Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication following cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempts; his personal physician Conrad Murray was convicted in 2011 of involuntary manslaughter for administering propofol to him without proper medical supervision or equipment to monitor vital signs

TLC

If you’re a fan of 90s pop music, then you’re sure to know all about TLC. This R&B girl group from Atlanta, Georgia, was one of the most successful groups of the decade, selling over 65 million records worldwide. Consisting of lead singer Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins, rapper Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes, and singer Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas, TLC was known for their funky mix of R&B, hip hop, and pop music. Hits like ‘Waterfalls’, ‘No Scrubs’, and ‘Unpretty’ made them household names, and their albums CrazySexyCool and Fanmail are considered two of the best pop albums ever made. If you’re looking for a throwback to the 90s, then look no further than TLC.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson is a legendary music artist who defined pop music in the 1990s. She is famous for her hits “Rhythm Nation” and “That’s the Way Love Goes,” as well as her Academy Award-winning song “Scream.” Janet Jackson is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with more than 150 million albums sold worldwide.

Spice Girls

Spice Girls were an English pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Melanie Brown (“Scary Spice”), Melanie Chisholm (“Sporty Spice”), Emma Bunton (“Baby Spice”), Geri Halliwell (“Ginger Spice”), and Victoria Beckham, née Adams (“Posh Spice”). They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single “Wannabe” in 1996, which hit number one in 37 countries and established them as a global phenomenon.

Their debut album, Scream If You Wanna Go Faster (2001), entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and became the fastest-selling album by a female group in history. Their follow-up album, Spiceworld (1997), also debuted at number one in the UK and sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. Overall, the group sold 80 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling female group of all time. They ii disbanded in 2000 after Halliwell’s departure.

Conclusion

We have now looked at the best 90s pop music artists in terms of their success, influence, and popularity. It is clear that there were many great artists during this decade, and it is hard to narrow it down to just a few. However, if we had to choose, we would say that the top three 90s pop music artists are Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Britney Spears. These three artists dominated the charts and have left a lasting impression on the world of pop music.