What is Musicmap?
Musicmap is a visual family tree of popular music. It lays out more than a century of genres, from gospel, blues and jazz through rock, metal, hip hop and every branch of electronic dance music, as one large map you can explore in the browser. It was created by Belgian designer Kwinten Crauwels.
Genres are grouped into families and connected by lines that show influence and lineage over time. Click any genre to read a short history and listen to example tracks, so you can hear how one style grew out of another.
Main Features
- Hundreds of genres on one dynamic map
- Lines showing which genres influenced which
- Timeline running from the early 1900s to today
- Short history text for each genre
- Example playlists to hear each style
- Ad-free, with optional art prints for sale
How to Get Started with Musicmap
- Open musicmap.info and accept or decline the cookie notice.
- Zoom into a family such as Rock, Jazz or House.
- Click a genre to open its description and examples.
- Follow the connecting lines to see where it came from and what it led to.
Musicmap Pricing
Musicmap is free and ad-free with no account needed. The team sells optional art prints of the map through a separate store.
Who Should Use It?
- Music lovers curious about genre history
- Students and teachers of music culture
- DJs and producers exploring roots of a style
- Record collectors looking for new directions
- Anyone who wonders how blues became techno
Musicmap Alternatives
- Radio Garden: live radio from around the globe
- Chrome Music Lab: playful music experiments
- Lo-Fi Player: build your own lo-fi room
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Musicmap free?
Yes. Musicmap is free to use and has no ads. Optional art prints are sold separately.
What does Musicmap show?
It shows popular music genres as a connected map, with lines for influence, a timeline, short histories and example tracks.
Do I need an account to use Musicmap?
No. You can open the site and start exploring straight away.