Top 30 Most Popular Music Genres based on sales of singles, record albums, compilation-albums, downloads & music videos

1. Pop [The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, ABBA, Celine Dion, Madonna, Elton John]

2. Rock [The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Queen, U2, Carlos Santana, Michael Jackson, Bob Seger]

3. Hard Rock [AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Deep Purple, Guns N' Roses, Van Halen]


4. Rhythm & Blues (R&B) [Mariah Carey, Lionel Richie, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men] 

5. Country [Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Shania Twain, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson]

6. Rock & Roll [Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, David Bowie, Elton John, Elvis Costello, The Rolling Stones]

7. Soul [Stevie Wonder, Barry White, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Four Tops, Roberta Flack, Aretha Franklin, Carole King]

8. Country Pop [LeAnn Rimes, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, John Denver, Olivia Newton-John, Alabama, Kenny Rogers]

9. Latin [Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Kike Santander, Nelly Furtado]

10. Disco [Abba, Rick Astley, Bee Gees, Boney M, Cher, The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Kool and the Gang]

Top 11 - 20 Most Popular Music Genres [examples in brackets of Music Artists on this Genre] 

11. Pop Rock [Elton John, Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, Chicago, Genesis, Fleetwood Mac, Rod Stewart]

12. Heavy Metal [Metallica, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Nazareth]

13. Progressive Rock [Pink Floyd, Genesis, Rush, King Crimson, Dream Theater, Jethro Tull, Emerson Lake & Palmer]

14. Alternative Rock [R.E.M., Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Linkin Park, Green Day, Duran Duran]

15. Dance [Madonna, Ricky Martin, Britney Spears, Gloria Estefan, Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey]

16. Jazz [Kenny G, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Diana Krall]

17. New Wave [Eurythmics, The Police, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, A-ha, The Cure, Culture Club, China Crisis]

18. Synthpop [Modern Talking, Pet Shop Boys, Baltimora, Berlin, Fiction Factory, A Flock of Seagulls, Giorgio Moroder]

19. Hip Hop [Eminem, Jay-Z, Tupac Shakur, Ludacris, B.o.B, Drake, Run-D.M.C., Public Enemy, NWA, Nas, Outkast]

20. Adult Contemporary [Phil Collins, Barbra Streisand, Anne Murray, Tom Jones, Simon and Garfunkel, Air Supply]


Top 21 - 30 Most Popular Music Genres [examples in brackets of Music Artists on this Genre] 

21. Dance Pop [Ricky Martin, Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Donna Summer]

22. Folk [Bob Dylan, Alison Krauss, Joni Mitchell, The Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, Peter, Paul & Mary, James Taylor]

23. Swing [Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Benny Goodman, Phil Harris, Riders in the Sky]

24. Arena Rock [Journey, Boston, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Heart, Def Leppard, Survivor, Pat Benatar]

25. New Age [Enya, Deep Forest, Enigma, Era, Gregorian, Jean Michel Jarre, Kitaro, Yanni, Darlene Koldenhoven] 

26. Blues Rock [Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Animals, Fleetwood Mac, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd]

27. Reggae [UB40, Bob Marley & the Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker & the Aces, Dennis Brown, Toots & the Maytals]

28. Grunge [Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Hole, Mudhoney, Screaming Trees]

29. Glam Metal [Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Ratt, Damn Yankees, Danger Danger, Slaughter, Poison, Scorpions]

30. Easy Listening [Jim Brickman, Richard Clayderman, Nana Mouskouri, Ray Conniff, Barry Manilow, Stephen Bishop]



Note: 
These rankings are based on estimates, the values of which are always hard to provide because of piracy in the music industry, inaccuracy of figures and values reported by recording companies, the fact that a sale in the store or a music download over the internet always happen every minute and every second all over the world, and other factors.