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Music genre

Industrial music

Industrial music is a music genre that emerged in United Kingdom in the 1970s. It is usually classed as a form of experimental music. Explore its 1 subgenres, key artists and related styles.

Listen: Industrial music examples

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Industrial Music Box (ISRC USUAN1100812)
1:43CC BY 3.0by Kevin MacLeodWikimedia Commons
1:43

Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.

About Industrial music

Industrial music is a music genre that emerged in United Kingdom in the 1970s. It is usually classed as a form of experimental music.

Artists closely associated with the genre include Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Sasha Grey, Laibach, Kerli and Yegor Letov.

Industrial music has given rise to 1 subgenre on this site, such as Post-industrial music.

From Wikipedia

Industrial music (or simply industrial) is a subgenre of experimental music that emerged in the mid-to late 1970s, primarily inspired by industrial society, while drawing influences from avant-garde and early electronic music genres such as musique concrète, tape music, noise and sound collage. The term was coined in 1976 by Monte Cazazza and adopted by Throbbing Gristle with the founding of Industrial Records. Other early industrial musicians include NON and Cabaret Voltaire. By the late 1970s, additional artists emerged such as Clock DVA, Nocturnal Emissions, Einstürzende Neubauten, SPK, Nurse with Wound, and Z'EV.

Genre family tree

Parent genres (↑) and subgenres (↓) of Industrial music.

Key artists

  • Depeche Mode
  • Nine Inch Nails
  • Sasha Grey
  • Laibach
  • Kerli
  • Yegor Letov
  • Yuri Shevchuk
  • Poppy
  • Emilie Autumn
  • Death Grips

Related genres

Frequently asked questions

What is Industrial music?

Industrial music is a music genre that emerged in United Kingdom in the 1970s. It is usually classed as a form of experimental music.

Where and when did Industrial music originate?

Industrial music originated in United Kingdom in the 1970s.

Who are famous Industrial music artists?

Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Sasha Grey, Laibach, Kerli and Yegor Letov.

Sources & credits