and his Tango Orchestra, circa 1930
Tango Tango was developed in the bars and port areas of
Buenos Aires, Argentina and
Montevideo, Uruguay, by the cities' urban lower class. It emerged as a fusion of various styles of music from across the globe including European styles such as
flamenco,
minuet,
polka,
mazurka, and
contradanza; Argentine and Uruguayan folk music, including
candombe,
payada and
milonga (considered a precursor to tango); and
sub-Saharan African influences. brought tango to new audiences in the 1920s and 30s. The
Golden Age of tango is generally considered to have been from 1935 to 1952. At this time, tango was generally performed by large orchestral groups known as
orquestas típicas, which typically featured over a
dozen performers. Notable band leaders at the time included
Francisco Canaro,
Julio de Caro,
Osvaldo Pugliese,
Aníbal Troilo,
Juan d'Arienzo, and
Alfredo De Angelis. Notable vocalists from the era included
Carlos Gardel,
Roberto Goyeneche,
Hugo del Carril,
Tita Merello,
Susana Rinaldi,
Edmundo Rivero, and
Ignacio Corsini. In the 1950s, Astor Piazzolla revolutionized tango with his
nuevo tango, which incorporated elements of
jazz and classical music. Though his innovations were initially scorned by traditionalists, Piazzolla's compositions eventually earned him widespread recognition and celebration. Many musicians who worked with Piazzolla went on to have their own successful careers, including violinist
Antonio Agri; fellow
bandoneón virtuosi José Libertella and
Rodolfo Mederos; and
pianists
Horacio Salgán and
Pablo Ziegler. Today, tango continues to enjoy popularity on both a local and international level. Buenos Aires is home to both professional demonstrations and local gatherings at bars and community centers across the city, and hosts the annual
Campeonato Mundial de Baile de Tango, typically in August. Groups like
Tanghetto,
Bajofondo,
Gotan Project, and Típica Messiez bring both nuevo tango and traditional tango to new audiences.
Finnish tango, an established variation of the Argentine tango but whose rhythm follows the
ballroom tango, is popular in Finland.
Rock Music Rock music from Argentina, commonly known as Argentine rock or
rock nacional ("national rock"), is one of the earliest incarnations of
Spanish-language rock. Argentina was one of the major exporters of
rock en español during the 1980s, with several Argentine acts achieving international success during the decade, including
Soda Stereo,
Virus, and
Enanitos Verdes. Subgenres of Argentine rock may include: • Pop: Virus,
Los Abuelos de la Nada,
Fito Páez •
Ska:
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs,
Los Auténticos Decadentes,
Todos Tus Muertos •
Reggae:
Los Pericos,
Lumumba,
Dread Mar-I •
Folk rock:
Sui Generis,
Las Pastillas del Abuelo,
Pedro y Pablo,
León Gieco •
Blues:
Manal,
Memphis La Blusera •
Hardcore:
Fun People,
Nueva Ética • English-language:
Sumo,
Triddana,
Maxi Trusso,
Siamés 1960s y Los de Fuego was heavily influenced by Elvis Presley. Early Argentine
rock and roll was heavily influenced by Anglophone artists. Singer and actor
Sandro initially styled himself after
Elvis Presley, and even earned the nickname "the Argentine Elvis." His music is often considered a precursor to Argentine rock. At the same time, the variety show
El Club del Clan hoped to compete in the domestic rock and roll market by offering young people a mixture of pop music, rock and roll,
bolero and
cumbia. The show was extremely popular and turned its cast—including
Palito Ortega,
Leo Dan,
Billy Caffaro,
Violeta Rivas, and
Cachita Galán—into the first national
teen idols. Both Sandro and
El Club del Clan offered young Argentines the opportunity to listen to rock and roll in Spanish at a time when the market was dominated by music in English.
Beatlemania reached Argentina during the early 1960s and inspired many local cover bands who sang predominately in English. A definitive shift occurred with
Los Gatos' 1967 single "
La balsa," which established the distinctive sound and emphasis of Spanish-language lyrics that have defined Argentine rock.
1980s and 90s were part of a wave of
música divertida that became popular in Argentina after the fall of the dictatorship. During the
Falklands War, the dictatorship banned music in English from playing on the radio, giving Argentine musicians additional exposure on the airwaves. This, paired with the fall of the dictatorship in 1983, allowed Argentine rock to grow and reach new audiences in Argentina and abroad. Several Argentine groups were able to achieve international recognition during this period, and were featured in the
Rock en tu idioma ("Rock in your language") publicity campaign. In the 80s, Argentine rock moved away from the folk style that had dominated the 70s and embraced new production styles and irreverent sounds and lyrics with groups like Soda Stereo,
Virus,
Los Twists,
Viuda e hijas de Roque Enroll, and
Los Abuelos de la Nada gaining popularity. Of course, this
música divertida ("fun music") wasn't the only music being created during the decade.
Sumo,
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and
Todos Tus Muertos brought
ska influences into the fold;
Riff,
La Torre,
V8, and
Rata Blanca were all notable heavy metal bands; and
rock rolinga, a style heavily influenced by
The Rolling Stones, was popular with groups like
Los Ratones Paranoicos. Other important acts included Charly García (now a successful solo artist),
Fabiana Cantilo,
Celeste Carballo,
Sandra Mihanovich,
Los Violadores, and
Patricio Rey y sus Redonditos de Ricota. Like the 1980s, the 1990s saw a continued diversification of influences in Argentine rock.
Heavy metal bands like
A.N.I.M.A.L.,
Tren Loco, and
Horcas gained more mainstream success;
Fito Páez and
Los Rodríguez achieved popularity with pop-influenced styles; and Iguana Lovers and
Babasónicos were important groups of the
movida sónica ("sonic movement"), which was a local interpretation of
alternative rock.
2000s–present While rock is no longer the dominant genre in Argentina, it continues to play an important role in Argentine national identity.
Graffiti of influential artists like Luis Alberto Spinetta, Charly García, and
Gustavo Cerati can be spotted around
Buenos Aires, and the
Cosquín Rock music festival has brought local and international acts to
Cosquín,
Córdoba since 2001. Notable acts have included:
Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado,
Airbag, Árbol, Los Espíritus,
Marilina Bertoldi,
Eruca Sativa,
Fidel Nadal,
Tersivel, and
Triddana.
Electronic Rock musician Gustavo Cerati helped pioneer
electronica in South America during the 80s and 90s, and the genre heavily influenced his 1999 album
Bocanada. The genre continued to grow during the 2000s and many artists gained local notoriety at the Zizek Club nights at the Niceto Club in Buenos Aires. After three years, the club nights evolved into ZZK Records, an independent record label that helped pioneer electro-folklore in Latin America, with a focus on cumbia fusion. Argentina has also been home to the annual electronic music festival
Creamfields BA. Electronic artists from Argentina include DJ
Hernán Cattáneo;
indietronica band
Entre Ríos; electropop band
Miranda!; tango fusion bands
Bajofondo Tango Club and the
Gotan Project; cumbia fusion artists Faauna and El Remolón;
Heatbeat; and DJ and producer
Tayhana.
Pop Notable Argentine pop artists include
Miranda!,
Lali and
Tini.
1950s–1960s 's "Pity Pity" sold 300,000 copies in 1960. In the
postwar era, pop music in Argentina was significantly influenced by American and English musicians. During the 1950s and 1960s, the "
la nueva ola" movement emerged, marking the rise of youth-oriented pop music in South America. Musicians often adapted popular English-language songs into Spanish, appealing to audiences across the country. Additionally, the cumbia pop group Las Primas gained popularity with songs like "Saca la Mano, Antonio", further diversifying the Argentine pop landscape.
1990s–2000s The 1990s and 2000s saw the rise of pop groups that significantly influenced the Argentine music scene. Groups Groups such as
Miranda!,
Bandana,
Mambrú,
Erreway,
Teen Angels and
Tan Biónica contributed to the landscape of Argentine pop music. , 2020
Miranda! became a stand out in Argentine pop music, pushing boundaries and redefining the genre. Formed in 2001, the band, consisting of
Ale Sergi, Juliana Gattas, and Lolo Fuentes, notably, quickly rose to fame with their catchy melodies, playful lyrics, and infectious energy. Their debut album,
Es Mentira, (2002), gained commercial success and introduced their blend of
electronic beats and pop melodies. Subsequent albums like
Sin Restricciones (2004) and
El Disco de Tu Corazón (2007), reinforced their presence in the industry. Miranda! achieved numerous awards and accolades, including multiple
Gardel Awards, highlighting their impact on the genre. Following the success of global girl groups like the
Spice Girls,
Bandana was formed through the reality television show
Popstars and became one of Argentina's best-selling groups in the early 2000s. Their performances and catchy songs appealed to teenage girls across the nation. Similarly,
Erreway in the early 2000s and
Teen Angels in the late 2000s, spawned from the television shows
Rebelde Way and
Casi Ángeles respectively, achieved national and international recognition, selling records and attracting significant youth followings. Notable solo artists during this era include
Axel,
Alejandro Lerner,
Diego Torres, and the Uruguayan
Natalia Oreiro.
2010s–present perfoming at ther
TINI Tour 2022 Since her transition from a
Disney teen idol to a solo artist,
Tini has played a pivotal role in the internationalization of contemporary Argentine pop. She is often cited by critics as the artist who bridged the gap between traditional pop and the burgeoning urbano scene, helping to establish Argentina as a powerhouse in the global Latin music market. In 2015, Tini became the first Argentine artist to sign with
Hollywood Records , a move that facilitated her crossover into European and North American markets. Her
self-titled debut album (2016) reached the top 10 in countries such as
Italy,
Germany, and
Austria, showcasing a global reach uncommon for Argentine soloists at the time. Her influence is also measured by her high-profile international collaborations, which have linked the Argentine scene with global stars. She has recorded with artists such as
Coldplay (performing on
Saturday Night Live in 2024 and their shows at
Hard Rock Stadium in
Miami and
Croke Park in
Dublin) ,
Christina Aguilera l,
Alejandro Sanz ,
Ricky Martin , and
Steve Aoki , effectively acting as a cultural ambassador for Argentine music in diverse genres. As of 2026, she remains one of the most-streamed Argentine female artists on platforms like
Spotify and
YouTube, serving as a blueprint for the "new generation" of Argentine pop stars including
Maria Becerra,
Emilia, and
Nicki Nicole. performing at the
River Plate Stadium In the early 2020s,
Maria Becerra emerged as a central figure in the global expansion of the Argentine urban-pop scene. Transitioning from a successful career as a YouTuber to a music powerhouse, her impact is characterized by massive digital consumption and historic live performances. In March 2024, Becerra became the first Argentine female artist to sell out the
River Plate Stadium, performing two consecutive shows for over 130,000 fans. By late 2025 , she broke her own record by announcing a 360° show at the same venue, solidifying her status as a stadium-level act. performing at her .mp3 Tour
Emilia has become a leading icon of the 2020s pop revival, specifically noted for her role in bringing 1990s and early 2000s aesthetics back to the mainstream. Her second studio album,
.mp3 (2023), debuted as the No. 1 global female album on
Spotify, reaching the top 5 of the Global Album Debut chart. This era was marked by a record-breaking string of 10 sold-out shows at the
Movistar Arena in
Buenos Aires , all sold out within 10 hours, followed by massive stadium dates at Vélez Sarsfield In this decade,
Lali, reaffirmed her status as a pioneer of Argentine pop by spearheading a sonic evolution inspired by the 80s and 90s
ballroom and dance scenes. Her impact during this decade is defined by her massive cultural presence and record-breaking live performances. Lali launched her sixth studio album,
No Vayas a Atender Cuando El Demonio Llama, in 2025, that same year between May and December, Lali became the first Argentine female act to sell out the
Velez Sarfield Stadium six times in a single year, totaling over 250,000 attendees. In June 2026, she will perform two back-to-back sold-out shows at the
River Plate Stadium.
Cuarteto Cuarteto, sometimes known as cuartetazo, is a form of
dance music from
Córdoba, Argentina, that is similar to
merengue. The word
cuarteto translates to "quartet" in English—the genre got its name from the Cuarteto Característico Leo, a quartet which is credited with inventing the genre. Cuarteto has been part of Argentina's musical heritage since the 1940s and underwent a significant revival in the 1980s and 90s. Notable acts during this period were
La Mona Jiménez and
Rodrigo. Other notable groups include
Tru-la-lá, Chébere, el Cuarteto de Oro, and el Cuarteto Berna.
Cumbia Cumbia is a style of music that blends African, Indigenous, and European influences. Argentine cumbia is derived from
Colombian cumbia, which is identified by its heavy use of drums and its signature double beat. Cumbia came to Argentina in the mid-50s. Some of the earliest groups to gain success were the Colombian group Cuarteto Imperial and the multinational group
Los Wawancó, whose early members came to Argentina to attend university. Cumbia continued to enjoy success in the 70s and 80s as part of the "movida tropical" ("tropical movement") in popular music. Cumbia's mainstream breakthrough came in the 1990s, with the development of
cumbia villera ("slum cumbia") in the poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires—it is a genre heavily influenced by
Peruvian cumbia, colloquially known as chicha, which uses electric guitars and synthesizers. Argentina was facing a
great depression at the time, and the genre's depictions of life in poor neighborhoods and recurring themes of sex, crime, drugs, and police violence appealed to Argentine youth. Notable acts include Amar Azul, Flor de Piedra,
Damas Gratis,
Piola Vago,
Yerba Brava, and
Pibes Chorros. In the mid-2010s, cumbia cheta, also known as
cumbia pop, gained popularity in Argentina and abroad with groups like Los Bonnitos and Agapornis. Cachengue, a form of Argentine cumbia heavily influenced by
reggaeton, also gained popularity during this decade. Other notable acts include:
Leo Mattioli,
Gilda,
Ráfaga,
La Base Musical, Los Palmeras, Los del Fuego, La Nueva Luna, Amar Azul, Mala Fama,
Jambao, Antonio Ríos,
Daniel Agostini,
Karina,
Dalila, and Mario Pereyra y su Banda. ==Urbano music==