Although pixies were formed in the late 80s (almost beginning of 90s) they affected 90s music so much that you will find them listed as main influences to all 90s bands (including Nirvana). another band that defined the sound of the 90s is the Sonic Youth. read more
Given that the NY Times declared country music "dead" in the 1980s, music acts during that decade had very different roles. In the early 1980s, defining bands would include the Oak Ridge Boys and Alabama. In the late 1980s, you had the emergence of such performers as Randy Travis, Clint Black and Garth Brooks. read more
Aside from rap, reggae, contemporary R&B and urban music in general remained extremely popular throughout the decade; urban music in the late-1980s and 1990s often blended with styles such as soul, funk and jazz, resulting in fusion genres such as new jack swing, neo-soul, hip hop soul and g-funk which were popular. read more