1977

Movie Saturday Night Fever popularizes "disco" music

1987

Sony introduces the Walkman

Hip hop, a blend of rock, jazz, soul with African drumming, born in the South Bronx

1979

Sugarhill Gang releases "Rapper's Delight", popularizes rap, combines elements of disco and rock with urban street music

1981

MTV, music television, debuts with nonstop music videos, presentation becomes as

important as the sound

1982

Michael Jackson releases album "Thriller", ties with Eagles' "Their Greatest Hits," as

best selling album in history; "Thriller" music video becomes a classic

1983

Compact discs begin to replace

vinyl records

1984

Madonna’s “Like A Virgin Makes”

her a major star

1990

Grunge rock, a combination of various rock styles, rises in Seattle; features such

bands as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Metallica

1995

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opens in Cleveland

2000

The Internet transforms music scene as companies offer free music over the Internet

without paying copyright fees.

Music industry executives take the issue to court.

A ruling prompts Napster to stop distributing copyrighted music free and team up with

industry giant Bertelsmann to provide

material for a fee.

2001In 2000, digital music players were either big and

clunky or small and useless with equally terrible user interfaces. Apple saw the opportunity and announced the release of the iPod, their first portable music player on October 23, 2001.

2003Apple Computer introduces Apple iTunes

Music Store, which allows people to download most songs for 99 cents each.