Western Europe
The sound of United Kingdom
Too large and too central to have a signature sound — most of the genres other places are distinctive for were either invented or reinvented here. The interesting entries are the hyper-local ones: British heavy metal, breakbeat hardcore, grime and its descendants.
4,276 artists in the catalog.
What United Kingdom does that nowhere else does
Genres far more common here than across the rest of the catalog. The multiplier is how much more common, weighted by how many artists carry it.
Five records to start with
Not a canon — a way in. Each one links to what it is, who it's for and where to go next.
British artists worth walking into
Ordered by how much we can tell you, not just by how well-known they are.
Muse
alternative metal · alternative rock
Where to start →Iron Maiden
heavy metal · new wave of British heavy metal
Where to start →The Who
art rock · classic rock
Where to start →Ringo Starr
pop music · pop rock
Where to start →Paul McCartney
art rock · beat music
Where to start →Ed Sheeran
alternative rock · dance music
Where to start →Eric Clapton
blues · blues rock
Where to start →Elton John
glam rock · pop rock
Where to start →Radiohead
Britpop · alternative rock
Where to start →Judas Priest
heavy metal · traditional heavy metal
Where to start →Robbie Williams
Britpop · alternative rock
Where to start →Pink Floyd
acid rock · art rock
Where to start →