The Prodigy navigated the high wire, balancing artistic merit and mainstream visibility with more flair than any electronica act of the 1990s. Ably defeating the image-unconscious attitude of most electronic artists in favor of a focus on nominal frontman Keith Flint.

There's no better illustration of Lady A's captivating, chart-dominating chemistry than their colossal hit "Need You Now", a smouldering anthem of late-night redemption that balances meticulous musical craftsmanship, glittering pop savvy and emotional gravitas.

Synth-pop duo Erasure were one of the most successful British acts of the late 1980s and early '90s, with four consecutive chart-topping albums and 33 Top 40 singles.

There's a lovely moment a little ways into Apple Music's Songwriter documentary about Ed Sheeran in which Sheeran, jet-lagged and carrying a cup of tea, straggles out into a yard in Malibu at dawn, sits down at his laptop and begins writing a song about the moment right in front of him.

An Irish singer and musician who first turned heads in 2011 with her debut album Celtic Lady, Vol. 1, Donna Taggart's fluid voice and comforting interpretations of classic Celtic ballads and country-folk songs have drawn comparisons to artists like Mary Black, Eva Cassidy, and Alison Krauss.

Armin van Buuren isn't just one of trance music's most respected figures, he's practically the embodiment of its spirit. Born in Leiden, the Netherlands, in 1976, van Buuren came into the scene in the mid '90s, as harder, ravier strains of Northern European dance music were crystalising into euphoric new forms.

The country world feigned surprise when, after three albums of Music Row-indebted songcraft, Taylor Swift formally embraced pop on 2012's Red. But no one should have been shocked: Any 14-year-old capable of persuading her parents to move to Nashville for her career clearly has ambition to burn.

Disco revivalists Scissor Sisters ignited dance floors throughout the 2000s after breaking through with their 2002 Grammy-nominated take on Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb", initially released as the B-side to their debut single, "Electrobix".

One of Europe's most popular metal outfits, Swedish band Sabaton have spent more than two decades crafting anthemic tales of real-life heroism and military history. Formed in 1999, Sabaton took their name from medieval armor-specifically, the piece that covered a knight's foot.

As a bearded bloke with a great big voice trading under the unabashedly old-fashioned name of Rag 'n' Bone Man, shattered the mould for music stars who broke out of in the 2010s. Then again, he was bound to break something given the power that pours out of him on "Human", his debut single in 2016.

Michael Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 400 million records worldwide. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century.

For Queen, rock was merely a jumping-off point. Packing enough pomp and grandeur to make their name seem understated, they built high-octane pop songs out of parts boosted from classical music, dance music, doo-wop, New Wave, metal and opera.

Formed in Australia, based in the UK, the chart-topping drum 'n' bass group Pendulum is known for incorporating heavy rock elements into their thumping electronic sound. They eventually began producing drum 'n' bass tracks and linked up with DJ Paul "El Hornet" Harding to form a trio.

Blending ska and pop with a distinctly English sense of humour, the band Madness created a "nutty sound" that made them UK superstars in the early '80s. Originally called The North London Invaders, the group changed its name to Madness in reference to a song by the pioneering Jamaican ska musician Prince Buster.

Electronic pioneers who became arena-filling pop titans, Depeche Mode aren't just icons of New Wave; their early years represent the seismic shift that triggered a tsunami of synthesiser-centred acts. When the UK group got their start in 1980.

Formed in London in the mid-'90s, the band debuted with 2000's Parachutes. Seasons have changed—the arty experiments of 2008's Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, the electro-rush of 2011's Mylo Xyloto, the eclecticism of 2019's Everyday Life-but the core of their sound has been consistent.

Steam Powered Giraffe are a theatrical steampunk ensemble from San Diego, California. Formed by identical twins David and Isabella "Bunny" Bennett, they incorporate a variety of elements into their act including songs, sketches, pantomime, and improvised dialogue.

It's hard to think of many artists in 21st-century pop who could match the vulnerability of Sam Smith. "I've never shied away from telling the truth in my music", the singer told Apple Music in 2020. "Music is literally my best friend; it's a release, a form of diary and therapy".

In many ways, Will Young is a thoroughly modern pop star. The Wokingham native catapulted to fame in 2002 after winning Pop Idol. Young's double-sided debut single, the soaring ballad "Evergreen" and the simmering R&B cut "Anything Is Possible", promptly smashed sales records.

Dozens of British artists share Adele's origins-BRIT School, MySpace, pop stardom-but it takes rare talent to have your voice declared timeless in your career's first flush. Adele honed hers as a kid in her North London bedroom, imitating Etta James every night for an hour.