Relive the Music of 1993-2004

Twelve years that changed music forever. From the raw power of grunge to the rise of hip-hop, from boy band mania to the digital revolution. Explore every year of the golden era.

Start with 1993 Read the Blog

Browse by Year

Each year from 1993 to 2004 had its own sound, its own stars, and its own story. Pick a year and dive in.

1993 Wu-Tang, Nirvana, and Whitney 1994 The greatest year in music? 1995 Alanis, Oasis, and 2Pac 1996 Spice Girls take over the world 1997 OK Computer and electronica 1998 Lauryn Hill and the pop explosion 1999 Millennium party and Napster rises 2000 Eminem, Kid A, and Y2K pop 2001 Linkin Park, The Strokes, iPod 2002 The Eminem Show dominates 2003 OutKast, 50 Cent, and iTunes 2004 Kanye, Green Day, and Usher

From the Blog

Deep dives into the music, culture, and technology that defined this era.

Why 1994 Was the Greatest Year in Music History

From Illmatic to Dookie, from Ready to Die to Superunknown, 1994 delivered a run of classic albums that has never been matched.

How Napster Changed Music Forever

In 1999, a college kid built an app that terrified the music industry and changed how we consume music to this day.

The TRL Era: When MTV Made Stars

Total Request Live turned Times Square into a daily concert and launched the careers of a generation of pop and rock artists.

12 Years Covered

1993 Starting Year

2004 Ending Year

Music Retro covers the era when you could still buy a CD at a record store, when MTV actually played music videos, and when a single album could define an entire year. Whether you grew up taping songs off the radio or downloading them on Napster, this is your era. We cover it all: grunge, hip-hop, pop, R&B, electronic, nu-metal, indie rock, and everything in between.