The Periodic Table of Music

Vibe coded by @plamere

Legend

Foundational (Groups 1-2)
Core Genres (Groups 3-12)
Modern/Niche (Groups 13-18)
Influencers/Innovators (Series)
One-Hit Wonder / Unique Impact
Collaboration / Supergroup
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18
RjR. Johnson Robert Johnson (Early Blues)
LaL. Armstrong Louis Armstrong (Early Jazz Innovator)
HwH. Williams Hank Williams (Country Pioneer)
FsF. Sinatra Frank Sinatra (Traditional Pop)
EpE. Presley Elvis Presley (Rock & Roll King)
CbC. Berry Chuck Berry (Rock & Roll Architect)
LrL. Richard Little Richard (Rock & Roll Energy)
BhB. Holly Buddy Holly (Singer-Songwriter Rock)
RcR. Charles Ray Charles (Soul Pioneer)
LPFLes Paul & Mary Ford Les Paul & Mary Ford (Early Innovators Collab)
BkB.B. King B.B. King (Blues Master)
MdM. Davis Miles Davis (Jazz Evolution)
BBeatles The Beatles (Pop/Rock Revolution)
RsRolling Stones The Rolling Stones (Rock & Roll Endurance)
AfA. Franklin Aretha Franklin (Queen of Soul)
JbJ. Brown James Brown (Godfather of Soul/Funk)
SwS. Wonder Stevie Wonder (Musical Genius)
BmB. Marley Bob Marley (Reggae Icon)
JlhJL Hooker John Lee Hooker (Blues Legend)
JcJ. Cash Johnny Cash (Country Iconoclast)
LzLed Zep Led Zeppelin (Hard Rock Gods)
PfPink Floyd Pink Floyd (Progressive Rock)
QQueen Queen (Rock Royalty)
EwfEW&F Earth, Wind & Fire (Funk/Soul Ensemble)
DsD. Summer Donna Summer (Queen of Disco)
KcKC & Sunshine KC & The Sunshine Band (Disco Funk)
AbABBA ABBA (Pop Perfection)
PfunkParliament Parliament/Funkadelic (P-Funk)
RaRamones Ramones (Punk Pioneers)
BsBlack Sabbath Black Sabbath (Heavy Metal Originators)
SgSugarhill Sugarhill Gang (Early Hip Hop)
KwKraftwerk Kraftwerk (Electronic Pioneers)
SexPSex Pistols Sex Pistols (Punk Impact - Unstable)
ClThe Clash The Clash (Punk Rock Icons)
JmJ. Mitchell Joni Mitchell (Singer-Songwriter)
EjE. John Elton John (Pop/Rock Legend)
SrvSRV Stevie Ray Vaughan (Blues Revival)
WnW. Nelson Willie Nelson (Outlaw Country)
U2U2 U2 (Arena Rock)
PolPolice The Police (New Wave/Rock)
PPrince Prince (Musical Polymath)
MjM. Jackson Michael Jackson (King of Pop)
MMadonna Madonna (Queen of Pop)
WhW. Houston Whitney Houston (Vocal Powerhouse)
JjJ. Jackson Janet Jackson (Pop/R&B Innovator)
RDMCARun DMC & Aerosmith Walk This Way (Collab)
DmDepeche Mode Depeche Mode (Synth Pop Icons)
GnRGuns N' Roses Guns N' Roses (Hard Rock)
PePublic Enemy Public Enemy (Conscious Hip Hop)
NoNew Order New Order (Post-Punk/Electronic)
REMR.E.M. R.E.M. (Alternative Rock Pioneers)
SmiThe Smiths The Smiths (Indie Icons)
AhaA-ha A-ha (Take On Me - One Hit Wonder)
SdeSade Sade (Smooth Jazz/Soul)
GbG. Brooks Garth Brooks (Country Megastar)
StS. Twain Shania Twain (Country Pop Crossover)
NNirvana Nirvana (Grunge Revolution)
PjPearl Jam Pearl Jam (Grunge/Alternative)
RhcpRHCP Red Hot Chili Peppers (Funk Rock)
McM. Carey Mariah Carey (Pop/R&B Diva)
TlcTLC TLC (R&B/Hip Hop Group)
BsB. Spears Britney Spears (Pop Princess)
SpGSpice Girls Spice Girls (Pop Phenomenon - Unstable)
SdS. Dogg Snoop Dogg (Hip Hop Icon)
AtcqATCQ A Tribe Called Quest (Jazz Rap)
MtMetallica Metallica (Thrash Metal Giants)
Tp2Pac 2Pac (Hip Hop Legend)
DpDaft Punk Daft Punk (Electronic Duo)
RhRadiohead Radiohead (Alternative Innovators)
BjBjörk Björk (Experimental Pop)
DAD'Angelo D'Angelo (Neo-Soul)
DrDDr. Dre Dr. Dre (Producer/Artist)
GcjG. Clark Jr. Gary Clark Jr. (Modern Blues Rock)
NjN. Jones Norah Jones (Jazz/Pop Vocalist)
CColdplay Coldplay (Alternative/Pop Rock)
FfFoo Fighters Foo Fighters (Modern Rock)
AwA. Winehouse Amy Winehouse (Soul/Jazz Revival)
BBeyoncé Beyoncé (Pop/R&B Icon)
JtJ. Timberlake Justin Timberlake (Pop/R&B)
LgLady Gaga Lady Gaga (Pop Provocateur)
RRihanna Rihanna (Pop/R&B/Dancehall)
KKanye West Kanye West (Ye) (Hip Hop Innovator)
EEminem Eminem (Rap God)
SoaDSOAD System of a Down (Alternative Metal)
KlK. Lamar Kendrick Lamar (Lyrical Hip Hop)
SkxSkrillex Skrillex (Dubstep/EDM)
AmArctic Monkeys Arctic Monkeys (Indie Rock)
TsT. Swift Taylor Swift (Pop Megastar)
BrMB. Mars Bruno Mars (Pop/Funk/Soul)
BeB. Eilish Billie Eilish (Modern Pop Innovator)

Key Influencers / Producers

MwM. Waters Muddy Waters (Blues Influence)
DeD. Ellington Duke Ellington (Jazz Composer)
BdB. Dylan Bob Dylan (Songwriting Legend)
MgM. Gaye Marvin Gaye (Soul Innovator)
GMG. Martin George Martin (Producer - The Beatles)
QJQ. Jones Quincy Jones (Producer Extraordinaire)
BEB. Eno Brian Eno (Ambient/Producer)
RRR. Rubin Rick Rubin (Producer - Diverse Genres)
PhWP. Williams Pharrell Williams (Producer/Artist)
TimTimbaland Timbaland (Hip Hop/R&B Producer)
LSPL.S. Perry Lee "Scratch" Perry (Reggae/Dub Producer)
JDLJ Dilla J Dilla (Influential Hip Hop Producer)
NPNeptunes The Neptunes (Production Duo)
MaxMM. Martin Max Martin (Pop Songwriter/Producer)
ApTAphex Twin Aphex Twin (Electronic Innovator)

Unique Innovators / Cross-Genre Artists

HwlfHowlin' Wolf Howlin' Wolf (Unique Blues Voice)
TmT. Monk Thelonious Monk (Unique Jazz Pianist)
DbD. Bowie David Bowie (Art Rock Chameleon)
FzF. Zappa Frank Zappa (Experimental Rock)
CtCaptain Beefheart Captain Beefheart (Avant-Garde)
TwT. Waits Tom Waits (Unique Songwriter)
KtbK. Bush Kate Bush (Art Pop Innovator)
LNXLil Nas X Lil Nas X (Genre-Blending Pop)
SSSilk Sonic Silk Sonic (Retro Soul/Funk Collab)
OutOutKast OutKast (Innovative Hip Hop Duo)
MisEM. Elliott Missy Elliott (Hip Hop Innovator)
GotGotye Gotye (Somebody That I Used To Know - Unique Hit)
AnPAnderson .Paak Anderson .Paak (Funk/Soul/Hip Hop)
StVSt. Vincent St. Vincent (Art Rock/Pop)
FKATFKA Twigs FKA Twigs (Experimental R&B/Electronic)

Click on an artist to view their Wikipedia page. This Periodic Table of Music is a conceptual representation. Artist placement, genre categorization, and era definitions are subjective and intended for a fun, visual exploration of music history. "Unstable" elements often represent artists with a singular massive hit or unique, fleeting impact. "Collabs" denote significant collaborations or groups. The Lanthanide/Actinide equivalents highlight key influencers, producers, and unique innovators. Approximately 118 artist entries are included to match the traditional periodic table element count.