300 Greatest Classic-Era
AOR/Melodic Rock Artists
Background: Adult-oriented rock (AOR), also known as "melodic rock" and, derisively, "corporate rock," and sometimes used synonymously with "arena rock," is a genre of rock that was at the peak of its success between the mid-1970s and early-1990s. It is known for its sleek, shiny, glossy, polished, slick, well-produced, radio-ready, commercially-friendly sound. Despite this, it is a distinct genre from pop-rock and power pop (although some artists overlap with these genres). This hook-heavy genre almost always takes a sincere, unironic, earnest, sentimental, and played-straight approach to rock music and its subject matter. Other features of AOR/melodic rock are hard rock anthems, soft rock power ballads, arena rock aesthetics, sing-along choruses, heavy use of keyboards/synthesizers (most of the time), and smokin' guitars. Adult-oriented rock (AOR), a genre of music, is different from album-oriented rock (also abbreviated AOR), a radio format. This list only includes artists who released albums during the classic era of the genre. We somewhat arbitrarily used 1993 as the last year for album releases to accept nominations. Nonetheless, an artist's post-1993 output was factored into their position.
Criteria: These artists were chosen on their popularity, acclaim, and influence.
Criteria: These artists were chosen on their popularity, acclaim, and influence.
AOR/Melodic Rock Artists
1. Journey
2. Boston
3. Foreigner
4. Styx
5. REO Speedwagon
2. Boston
3. Foreigner
4. Styx
5. REO Speedwagon
6. Toto
7. Heart (1983-1993 output)
8. Pat Benatar
9. Chicago (1980-1991 output)
10. Eddie Money
11. Survivor
12. Jefferson Starship / Starship
13. Bryan Adams
14. ZZ Top (1983-1992 output)
15. Loverboy
16. Billy Squier
17. Rick Springfield
18. Peter Frampton
19. Asia
20. .38 Special
21. Night Ranger
22. Cheap Trick (1983-1991 output)
23. Kenny Loggins (1980-1988 output)
24. Kansas (1980-1988 output)
25. Bad Company (1986-1993 output)
26. Richard Marx
27. Rainbow (1979-1986 output)
28. Blue Öyster Cult (1977-1985 output)
29. Cher (1982-1992 output)
30. Michael Bolton (1983-1989 output)
31. Europe
32. Triumph
33. Bonnie Tyler (1983-1991 output)
34. April Wine
35. Yes (1983-1991 output)
36. Roger Daltrey (1980-1992 output)
37. John Farnham (1984-1991 output)
38. Jimmy Barnes
39. Corey Hart
40. John Waite
41. Petra
42. Gary Moore (1982-1989 output)
43. The Babys
44. Donnie Iris
45. Honeymoon Suite
46. Red Rider
47. Kim Mitchell
48. Aldo Nova
49. Trooper
50. Bad English
51. Glass Tiger
52. Lou Gramm
53. Steve Perry
54. Mike + the Mechanics
55. Saga
56. Harlequin
57. Mr. Mister
58. Magnum
59. Peter Cetera
60. Head East
61. Cutting Crew
62. Prism
63. Alannah Myles
64. The Johnny Van Zant Band / Johnny Van Zant
65. Chilliwack (1978-1984 output)
66. Uriah Heep (1978-1991 output)
67. Nelson
68. Little River Band (1983-1990 output)
69. John Parr
70. Zebra
71. Platinum Blonde
72. Gowan
73. Tommy Shaw
74. Russ Ballard
75. Robin Beck
76. Quarterflash
77. Harem Scarem
78. Benny Mardones
79. Tony Carey
80. Giant
81. Angel
82. FM
83. Scandal
84. Sheriff
85. Giuffria
86. Toronto
87. Autograph
88. Frozen Ghost
89. Dennis DeYoung
90. Streetheart
91. Axe
92. Le Roux
93. Icon
94. Michael Stanley Band
95. GTR
96. Shooting Star
97. Streets
98. White Sister
99. Strangeways
100. Henry Lee Summer
7. Heart (1983-1993 output)
8. Pat Benatar
9. Chicago (1980-1991 output)
10. Eddie Money
11. Survivor
12. Jefferson Starship / Starship
13. Bryan Adams
14. ZZ Top (1983-1992 output)
15. Loverboy
16. Billy Squier
17. Rick Springfield
18. Peter Frampton
19. Asia
20. .38 Special
21. Night Ranger
22. Cheap Trick (1983-1991 output)
23. Kenny Loggins (1980-1988 output)
24. Kansas (1980-1988 output)
25. Bad Company (1986-1993 output)
26. Richard Marx
27. Rainbow (1979-1986 output)
28. Blue Öyster Cult (1977-1985 output)
29. Cher (1982-1992 output)
30. Michael Bolton (1983-1989 output)
31. Europe
32. Triumph
33. Bonnie Tyler (1983-1991 output)
34. April Wine
35. Yes (1983-1991 output)
36. Roger Daltrey (1980-1992 output)
37. John Farnham (1984-1991 output)
38. Jimmy Barnes
39. Corey Hart
40. John Waite
41. Petra
42. Gary Moore (1982-1989 output)
43. The Babys
44. Donnie Iris
45. Honeymoon Suite
46. Red Rider
47. Kim Mitchell
48. Aldo Nova
49. Trooper
50. Bad English
51. Glass Tiger
52. Lou Gramm
53. Steve Perry
54. Mike + the Mechanics
55. Saga
56. Harlequin
57. Mr. Mister
58. Magnum
59. Peter Cetera
60. Head East
61. Cutting Crew
62. Prism
63. Alannah Myles
64. The Johnny Van Zant Band / Johnny Van Zant
65. Chilliwack (1978-1984 output)
66. Uriah Heep (1978-1991 output)
67. Nelson
68. Little River Band (1983-1990 output)
69. John Parr
70. Zebra
71. Platinum Blonde
72. Gowan
73. Tommy Shaw
74. Russ Ballard
75. Robin Beck
76. Quarterflash
77. Harem Scarem
78. Benny Mardones
79. Tony Carey
80. Giant
81. Angel
82. FM
83. Scandal
84. Sheriff
85. Giuffria
86. Toronto
87. Autograph
88. Frozen Ghost
89. Dennis DeYoung
90. Streetheart
91. Axe
92. Le Roux
93. Icon
94. Michael Stanley Band
95. GTR
96. Shooting Star
97. Streets
98. White Sister
99. Strangeways
100. Henry Lee Summer
101. Paul Janz
102. Praying Mantis
103. Alias
104. Noiseworks
105. Jon Butcher
106. House of Lords
107. Patty Smyth
108. Boy Meets Girl
109. Southern Sons
110. Ian Moss
111. Trevor Rabin
112. Franke and the Knockouts
113. Joe Lynn Turner
114. Planet P Project
115. Sherbet (1976-1979 output) / Sherbs
116. I-Ten
117. Mark Free / Marcie Free
118. Sad Café
119. Daryl Braithwaite
120. Gamma
121. Coney Hatch
122. Sniff 'n' the Tears
123. Jude Cole
124. Ian Thomas
125. Andy Taylor
126. Stan Bush
127. Max Webster
128. 1927
129. Blackfoot (1983-1990 output)
130. Sharon O'Neill
131. RTZ
132. Danger Danger
133. Desmond Child
134. Fiona
135. Tyketto
136. Unruly Child
137. Duke Jupiter
138. Spider
139. Charlie
140. The Law
141. Roxus
142. Benjamin Orr
143. Lee Aaron
144. Ted Nugent (1982-1988 output)
145. Saraya
146. City Boy
147. Doucette
148. Orion the Hunter
149. Haywire
150. Hardline
151. Signal
152. Shadow King
153. Fortune
154. Michael Morales
155. Dakota
156. Touch
157. Red Dawn
158. Paul Carrack
159. Jean Beauvoir
160. Dare
161. Shy
162. The Storm
163. Opús
164. Tone Norum
165. David Foster
166. Witness
167. Fair Warning
168. Treat
169. Dominoe
170. Danny Spanos
171. Voyager
172. John Hall Band
173. Steel Breeze
174. Mick Jones
175. Robert Tepper
176. 707
177. Van Zant (1985 output)
178. Marilyn Martin
179. White Heart
180. Balance
181. Stage Dolls
182. Headpins
183. Tané Cain
184. Hughes / Thrall
185. Robin Zander
186. Legs Diamond
187. Jeff Paris
188. Sabu
189. Zinatra
190. Taxxi
191. Tycoon
192. Greg Guidry
193. Blackjack
194. Billy Satellite
195. Eddie Schwartz
196. Virginia Wolf
197. Cobra
198. Stabilizers
199. Van Stephenson
200. Spys
102. Praying Mantis
103. Alias
104. Noiseworks
105. Jon Butcher
106. House of Lords
107. Patty Smyth
108. Boy Meets Girl
109. Southern Sons
110. Ian Moss
111. Trevor Rabin
112. Franke and the Knockouts
113. Joe Lynn Turner
114. Planet P Project
115. Sherbet (1976-1979 output) / Sherbs
116. I-Ten
117. Mark Free / Marcie Free
118. Sad Café
119. Daryl Braithwaite
120. Gamma
121. Coney Hatch
122. Sniff 'n' the Tears
123. Jude Cole
124. Ian Thomas
125. Andy Taylor
126. Stan Bush
127. Max Webster
128. 1927
129. Blackfoot (1983-1990 output)
130. Sharon O'Neill
131. RTZ
132. Danger Danger
133. Desmond Child
134. Fiona
135. Tyketto
136. Unruly Child
137. Duke Jupiter
138. Spider
139. Charlie
140. The Law
141. Roxus
142. Benjamin Orr
143. Lee Aaron
144. Ted Nugent (1982-1988 output)
145. Saraya
146. City Boy
147. Doucette
148. Orion the Hunter
149. Haywire
150. Hardline
151. Signal
152. Shadow King
153. Fortune
154. Michael Morales
155. Dakota
156. Touch
157. Red Dawn
158. Paul Carrack
159. Jean Beauvoir
160. Dare
161. Shy
162. The Storm
163. Opús
164. Tone Norum
165. David Foster
166. Witness
167. Fair Warning
168. Treat
169. Dominoe
170. Danny Spanos
171. Voyager
172. John Hall Band
173. Steel Breeze
174. Mick Jones
175. Robert Tepper
176. 707
177. Van Zant (1985 output)
178. Marilyn Martin
179. White Heart
180. Balance
181. Stage Dolls
182. Headpins
183. Tané Cain
184. Hughes / Thrall
185. Robin Zander
186. Legs Diamond
187. Jeff Paris
188. Sabu
189. Zinatra
190. Taxxi
191. Tycoon
192. Greg Guidry
193. Blackjack
194. Billy Satellite
195. Eddie Schwartz
196. Virginia Wolf
197. Cobra
198. Stabilizers
199. Van Stephenson
200. Spys
201. Cellarful of Noise
202. Diving for Pearls
203. Drive, She Said
204. Novo Combo
205. Talisman
206. Device
207. Phenomena
208. Greg Lake
209. Lake
210. The Arrows
211. Paul Dean
212. New England
213. Valentine
214. Aviator
215. Erika
216. Eric Martin
217. Alien
218. Alexa
219. Glen Burtnik
220. Judie Tzuke
221. Gregg Rolie
222. Margaret Becker
223. Grand Prix
224. DeGarmo & Key
225. Black Rose
226. G-Force
227. Keats
228. Boulevard
229. Joe Lamont
230. Romeo's Daughter
231. The Producers
232. Airplay
233. Barry Goudreau
234. Dan Lucas
235. Planet 3
236. Robby Valentine
237. Kane Roberts
238. Mastedon
239. Crown of Thorns
240. Arc Angel
241. Trillion
242. Jimi Jamison
243. Kerry Livgren / AD
244. Airrace
245. Santers
246. Tim Feehan
247. Only Child
248. Casanova
249. Robin George
250. Missouri
251. Zeno
252. Russ Taff
253. Joshua
254. Heartland
255. Fate
256. RPM
257. Teaze
258. Orphan
259. Lisa Hartman
260. Tobruk
261. Paul Laine
262. Michael Thompson Band
263. China Sky
264. Mitch Malloy
265. Skagarack
266. Beau Coup
267. Prophet
268. Alaska
269. Sweet Comfort Band
270. B.E. Taylor Group
271. Adrenalin
272. Return
273. Rik Emmett
274. Buck Dharma
275. Stingray
276. Stone Fury
277. Blue Tears
278. Martin Briley
279. Glass Moon
280. Cannata
281. The Innocent
282. Fandango
283. Piper
284. Stan Meissner
285. Lone Star
286. Jim Jidhed
287. Myles Goodwyn
288. Steve Lukather
289. From the Fire
290. Allies
291. Idle Cure
292. Fahrenheit
293. Wall of Silence
294. Jerusalem
295. Chrissy Steele
296. Steve Walsh
297. Roadmaster
298. Hybrid Ice
299. Nantucket
300. Urgent
202. Diving for Pearls
203. Drive, She Said
204. Novo Combo
205. Talisman
206. Device
207. Phenomena
208. Greg Lake
209. Lake
210. The Arrows
211. Paul Dean
212. New England
213. Valentine
214. Aviator
215. Erika
216. Eric Martin
217. Alien
218. Alexa
219. Glen Burtnik
220. Judie Tzuke
221. Gregg Rolie
222. Margaret Becker
223. Grand Prix
224. DeGarmo & Key
225. Black Rose
226. G-Force
227. Keats
228. Boulevard
229. Joe Lamont
230. Romeo's Daughter
231. The Producers
232. Airplay
233. Barry Goudreau
234. Dan Lucas
235. Planet 3
236. Robby Valentine
237. Kane Roberts
238. Mastedon
239. Crown of Thorns
240. Arc Angel
241. Trillion
242. Jimi Jamison
243. Kerry Livgren / AD
244. Airrace
245. Santers
246. Tim Feehan
247. Only Child
248. Casanova
249. Robin George
250. Missouri
251. Zeno
252. Russ Taff
253. Joshua
254. Heartland
255. Fate
256. RPM
257. Teaze
258. Orphan
259. Lisa Hartman
260. Tobruk
261. Paul Laine
262. Michael Thompson Band
263. China Sky
264. Mitch Malloy
265. Skagarack
266. Beau Coup
267. Prophet
268. Alaska
269. Sweet Comfort Band
270. B.E. Taylor Group
271. Adrenalin
272. Return
273. Rik Emmett
274. Buck Dharma
275. Stingray
276. Stone Fury
277. Blue Tears
278. Martin Briley
279. Glass Moon
280. Cannata
281. The Innocent
282. Fandango
283. Piper
284. Stan Meissner
285. Lone Star
286. Jim Jidhed
287. Myles Goodwyn
288. Steve Lukather
289. From the Fire
290. Allies
291. Idle Cure
292. Fahrenheit
293. Wall of Silence
294. Jerusalem
295. Chrissy Steele
296. Steve Walsh
297. Roadmaster
298. Hybrid Ice
299. Nantucket
300. Urgent
Honorable Mentions:
• Airborne
• Airkraft
• Alpha Centauri
• Aviary
• Baby Grand
• Brian Spence
• Craaft
• Da Vinci
• Evenrude
• Fotomaker
• Glory
• Robert Hart
• Lionheart
• Mayday
• Melidian
• Nite City
• Nuclear Valdez
• Preview
• Raw Silk
• Refugee
• Richrath
• Riggs
• Rio
• David Roberts
• Sugarcreek / The Creek
• Wiggy Bits
• Wildlife
• Wrabit
• Ya Ya
• Zon
• Airkraft
• Alpha Centauri
• Aviary
• Baby Grand
• Brian Spence
• Craaft
• Da Vinci
• Evenrude
• Fotomaker
• Glory
• Robert Hart
• Lionheart
• Mayday
• Melidian
• Nite City
• Nuclear Valdez
• Preview
• Raw Silk
• Refugee
• Richrath
• Riggs
• Rio
• David Roberts
• Sugarcreek / The Creek
• Wiggy Bits
• Wildlife
• Wrabit
• Ya Ya
• Zon
Top 75 Artists Who Touched on the AOR/Melodic Rock Sound During the Classic Era of That Genre, but are Generally Better Classified as Something Else:
1. Van Halen
2. Queen
3. The Who
4. Deep Purple
5. Def Leppard
6. Rush
7. Bon Jovi
8. Genesis
9. Dire Straits
10. The Cars
11. Bruce Springsteen
12. Restless Heart
13. UFO
14. Grand Funk Railroad
15. Akina Nakamori
16. S. Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe
17. Kiss
18. Fleetwood Mac
19. Nazareth
20. Meat Loaf
21. Whitesnake
22. Status Quo
23. Huey Lewis and the News
24. Belinda Carlisle
25. Sammy Hagar
26. Robert Palmer
27. Laura Branigan
28. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
29. The Outfield
30. Manfred Mann's Earth Band
31. Y&T
32. The Alan Parsons Project
33. Stevie Nicks
34. Ambrosia
35. Saxon
36. Wishbone Ash
37. The Tubes
38. David Lee Roth
39. Jennifer Rush
40. Christopher Cross
41. The Gregg Allman Band
42. Tygers of Pan Tang
43. Juice Newton
44. Helloween
45. Pablo Cruise
46. The Power Station
47. Rick Derringer
48. Dokken
49. Warrant
50. Player
51. Winger
52. Lita Ford
53. White Lion
54. Vixen
55. Starz
56. Gentle Giant
57. Utopia
58. Damn Yankees
59. John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band
60. Vandenberg
61. FireHouse
62. It Bites
63. The Firm
64. McAuley Schenker Group
65. King Kobra
66. Lucifer's Friend
67. Starcastle
68. Point Blank
69. HSAS
70. TNT
71. Bonfire
72. Hurricane
73. 220 Volt
74. Doc Holliday
75. Target
2. Queen
3. The Who
4. Deep Purple
5. Def Leppard
6. Rush
7. Bon Jovi
8. Genesis
9. Dire Straits
10. The Cars
11. Bruce Springsteen
12. Restless Heart
13. UFO
14. Grand Funk Railroad
15. Akina Nakamori
16. S. Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe
17. Kiss
18. Fleetwood Mac
19. Nazareth
20. Meat Loaf
21. Whitesnake
22. Status Quo
23. Huey Lewis and the News
24. Belinda Carlisle
25. Sammy Hagar
26. Robert Palmer
27. Laura Branigan
28. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
29. The Outfield
30. Manfred Mann's Earth Band
31. Y&T
32. The Alan Parsons Project
33. Stevie Nicks
34. Ambrosia
35. Saxon
36. Wishbone Ash
37. The Tubes
38. David Lee Roth
39. Jennifer Rush
40. Christopher Cross
41. The Gregg Allman Band
42. Tygers of Pan Tang
43. Juice Newton
44. Helloween
45. Pablo Cruise
46. The Power Station
47. Rick Derringer
48. Dokken
49. Warrant
50. Player
51. Winger
52. Lita Ford
53. White Lion
54. Vixen
55. Starz
56. Gentle Giant
57. Utopia
58. Damn Yankees
59. John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band
60. Vandenberg
61. FireHouse
62. It Bites
63. The Firm
64. McAuley Schenker Group
65. King Kobra
66. Lucifer's Friend
67. Starcastle
68. Point Blank
69. HSAS
70. TNT
71. Bonfire
72. Hurricane
73. 220 Volt
74. Doc Holliday
75. Target
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Edited By: Area Man (with input from Bruno, Ryan, Spawn of Lilith, and Zach)
Last Updated: 2024-06-17
Newly added names are in Red
Last Updated: 2024-06-17
Newly added names are in Red