<P> New wave differs from other movements with ties to first - wave punk as it displays characteristics common to pop music, rather than the more "artsy" post-punk . Although it incorporates much of the original punk rock sound and ethos, new wave exhibits greater complexity in both music and lyrics . Common characteristics of new wave music include the use of synthesizers and electronic productions, the importance of styling and the arts, as well as diversity . </P> <P> New wave has been called one of the definitive genres of the 1980s, after it grew partially fixated on MTV (the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" music video was broadcast as the first music video to promote the channel's launch), and the popularity of several new wave artists, attributed to their exposure on the channel . In the mid-1980s, differences between new wave and other music genres began to blur . New wave has enjoyed resurgences since the 1990s, after a rising "nostalgia" for several new wave - influenced artists . Subsequently, the genre influenced other genres . During the 2000s, a number of acts, such as the Strokes, Interpol, Franz Ferdinand and The Killers explored new wave and post-punk influences . These acts were sometimes labeled "new wave of new wave". </P> <P> The catch - all nature of new wave music has been a source of much confusion and controversy . The 1985 discography Who's New Wave in Music listed artists in over 130 separate categories . The New Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock calls the term "virtually meaningless", while AllMusic mentions "stylistic diversity". </P> <P> New wave first emerged as a rock genre in the early 1970s, used by critics including Nick Kent and Dave Marsh to classify such New York - based groups as the Velvet Underground and New York Dolls . It gained currency beginning in 1976 when it appeared in UK punk fanzines such as Sniffin' Glue and newsagent music weeklies such as Melody Maker and New Musical Express . In November 1976 Caroline Coon used Malcolm McLaren's term "new wave" to designate music by bands not exactly punk, but related to the same musical scene . The term was also used in that sense by music journalist Charles Shaar Murray in his comments about the Boomtown Rats . For a period of time in 1976 and 1977, the terms new wave and punk were somewhat interchangeable . By the end of 1977, "new wave" had replaced "punk" as the definition for new underground music in the UK . </P>

Who is the most associated with the beginning of modern music