17 Music Genres That Have Disappeared
These music styles once defined entire eras, but today, they've either faded into obscurity or vanished entirely from the mainstream.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Music constantly evolves, and not every genre survives the shift. However, others burn out as quickly as they rise. These 17 forgotten music genres had their moment in the spotlight before quietly disappearing from the cultural stage.
1. Disco
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Once the life of every party in the late ’70s, disco dominated clubs with its groovy basslines and flashy fashion. But the backlash came hard and fast — symbolized by 1979’s infamous “Disco Demolition Night.
2. Hair Metal
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Think of big hair, guitar solos, and tight leather pants. This glam-heavy genre rocked the ’80s but fell off hard when grunge brought in flannel and rawness.
3. Trip-Hop
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A moody blend of hip-hop and electronic, trip-hop thrived in the 1990s with artists like Portishead and Massive Attack. But its slow, brooding pace didn’t fit the fast digital era.
4. New Jack Swing
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This late ’80s to early ’90s hybrid of R&B and hip hop was smooth, funky, and danceable. It ruled radio for a moment, but eventually got squeezed out by more aggressive rap and modern pop.
5. Big Band/Swing
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Once the soundtrack of the ’30s and ’40s, big band music filled ballrooms with horns, jazz, and sharp suits. However, television and rock ‘n’ roll changed everything, and swing fell silent.
6. Grunge
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Born in Seattle and fronted by bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden, grunge captured a generation’s angst. However, after the tragic losses of its icons, the movement stalled.
7. Britpop
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In the ’90s, Britpop was everywhere — Oasis, Blur, Pulp, fueling rivalries and magazine covers. However, the hype faded fast, and by the 2000s, even the bands had changed directions.
8. Ska Punk
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A mix of horns and punk energy, ska punk had a quirky, bouncy vibe in the mid-to-late ’90s. Bands like Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake briefly charted, but the genre couldn’t evolve.
9. Chillwave
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This dreamy, lo-fi electronic style had a blog-fueled boom around 2010. It was all about fuzzy synths, summer nostalgia, and vague vocals.
10. Crunk
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Crunk exploded in the early 2000s, powered by high energy, shouted vocals, and dirty south beats. Lil Jon led the charge, but like many trends, it got overused fast.
11. IDM (Intelligent Dance Music)
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Designed more for headphones than clubs, IDM was all about complex, cerebral electronic compositions. It flourished in the ’90s underground but never found mass appeal.
12. Techno Hardcore (Gabber)
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Fast, distorted, and intense, gabber was the heart-pounding sound of underground European raves. However, its extreme tempo and aggressive style didn’t age well.
13. Nu Metal
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Rap met rock in a collision that gave us bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn. While briefly massive, critics and listeners grew tired of the angst-heavy style.
14. Freestyle
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Popular in Latin-American and urban communities during the ’80s, freestyle was an energetic blend of synth-pop and dance. Despite catchy hooks and fierce fans, radio support vanished.
15. Electroclash
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Merging synthpop with punk attitude, electroclash was a hipster favorite in the early 2000s. Its aesthetic was more lasting than its music.
16. Skiffle
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A quirky UK-based genre that used homemade instruments, skiffle helped launch acts like The Beatles. However, the DIY folk-blues hybrid had a very short shelf life.
17. Bubblegum Pop (Original 1960s Style)
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Crafted to sell toys and target kids, bubblegum pop acts like The Archies and The Monkees pumped out sugar-sweet singles. It faded as audiences matured and rock took over.