The Best Music of the 2010s
How much music was released in the 2010s? Once streaming made discovering and sharing new music effortless, it felt like an infinite amount. From every corner of the world, from obscure experimentalists to the biggest names in pop culture, music was more accessible and more varied than ever this decade. In this series of lists and features, Pitchfork takes a deep dive into the artists, genres, and movements that shaped the past ten years. We think it represents the best of what this landmark decade had to offer, and gives insight into where we may be going in the next one.
Dance Dance Revolution: How EDM Conquered America in the 2010s
A decade in dance music that changed pop forever, according to Skrillex, Zedd, Boys Noize, and more.
20 Pitchfork Staffers on Their Favorite Music Videos of the 2010s
Our personal picks for the best clips of the decade
22 Musicians on Their Favorite Albums of the 2010s
The records that defined the decade for Courtney Barnett, Denzel Curry, Carly Rae Jepsen, Disclosure and more
The Chorus of #MeToo, and the Women Who Turned Trauma Into Songs
Artists who have released poignant music about their sexual assault and harassment talk about what they’ve learned and what it’s like to come forward.
How Future Rewrote Rap in His Own Image
It isn’t hyperbole to claim that the rapper is one of the 2010s’ most essential artists.
How Indie Went Pop—and Pop Went Indie—in the 2010s
Ten years ago, a collaboration between an indie act and a pop artist was something to marvel over. Now, it’s just how things are.
Best of the 2010s: Pitchfork Readers’ Poll Results
Your picks of the best songs and albums of the decade
11 Songs That Define Chicago Drill, the Decade’s Most Important Rap Subgenre
From Chief Keef to Polo G, these tracks defined drill
How Tumblr Helped Queer Mainstream Pop
The look and language of pop this decade took notes from queer users on the microblogging site.
How Chillwave’s Brief Moment in the Sun Cast a Long Shadow Over the 2010s
Washed Out, Neon Indian, Toro y Moi, and what happened after the genre’s bedroom pop sounds hit the indie mainstream
How Twitter Changed Music
Hashtag rap! Kanye rants! Terrifying stan pile-ons! For better and worse, Twitter has forever altered the music landscape.
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Activism, Identity Politics, and Pop’s Great Awokening
From Beyoncé to Kendrick to Kesha, pop’s turn to political activism produced some of the decade’s most memorable moments.
The Rise of Conceptronica
Why so much electronic music this decade felt like it belonged in a museum instead of a club
Remembering the Weirdest Album Launch Stunts of the 2010s
From parody streaming platforms to cryptic street-art campaigns, every band was desperate to seize your attention.
The Strange Evolution of Viral Music Stardom
From Kitty Pryde to Lil Nas X, going viral has gone from a quirky phenomenon to the new normal.
The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s
The records that made the decade, starring Kendrick Lamar, Grimes, Bon Iver, Solange, Lana Del Rey, and many more
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The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s
The defining tracks of the decade, starring Robyn, Drake, Vampire Weekend, Daft Punk, SZA, and many more
A Note From Pitchfork Editor-in-Chief Puja Patel About Our 2010s Project
200 songs and 200 albums don’t just rank themselves