Powerful Royalty Free Rock Anthems

Rock music, also commonly referred to as rock & roll, is a popular musical genre that developed in the 1950s. The term “rock” was originally developed to distinguish the genre from pop music. In 1990, the music industry wanted to highlight the sociological differences between pop and rock music, as pop music was based on instant singles aimed at teenagers and rock music was album-based music for adults. The general definition of rock is that it is music with a strong beat and a fast tempo (140 beats per minute or faster). From there, differences in the definition arise depending on the culture at hand. In British usage, rock music is thought of as music with simple tunes and a strong beat that is usually played and sung loudly by musicians who are using electric guitars and drums. The Canadian government defines rock music as music that is characterized by its strong beat and use of blues forms, alongside the presence of electric rock instruments such as the electric piano, bass, or guitar.

Chuck Berry is largely considered the father of rock and roll music. He combined country guitar riffs, rhythm and blues beats, and lyrics that inspired a young generation. In her 1969 Rock Encyclopedia, critic Lillian Roxon wrote that Berry “may be the single most important name in the history of rock.” Similarly, John Lennon once said, “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry.” Berry was born in 1926 and grew up in a middle-class African American neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri. His father was a part-time preacher, and his mother sang in the church choir, so it is no surprise that gospel was one of Berry’s earliest musical influences. He later learned boogie-woogie, swing, and blues from the radio. In 1955, Berry got his big break at a recording session at Chess Records in Chicago. He borrowed from an old country song and used his electric guitar to create the raw, wildly energetic sound of “Maybellene.” Between 1955 and 1965, Berry recorded a slew of songs that are now considered foundational to the genre of rock and roll. Other famous artists to build on what Berry created include Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly.

Rock is one of the most diverse genres out there. Some of these rock subgenres include:

Pop Rock: This style combines catchy, light-hearted pop lyrics with a guitar-based rock sound. It tends to focus on songwriting, emphasizing the song form and hook.


Space Rock: This subgenre is characterized by long psychedelic instrumental sections and lyrics focused on science fiction or outer space. These songs often have a hypnotic sound thanks to distorted and reverberation-heavy guitars.


Yacht Rock: Don’t rock the boat! This style of rock music is smooth and melodic, and usually combines elements of jazz and rhythm and blues with rock.


Heavy Metal: Heavy metal is highly amplified harsh-sounding rock music that features a strong beat and lyrics that usually feature violent or fantastic imagery.


Progressive Rock: Also known as classical rock or symphonic rock, progressive rock grew out of the United Kingdom in the 1960s. It tends to feature bold compositions and a psychedelic sound.


Punk Rock: This music is characterized by loud vocals and lyrics that are often purposefully offensive and feature social discontent and a sense of alienation.


Blues Rock: This fusion music genre combines elements of blues with rock music. It can be recognized by its bluesy improvisation, electric guitar emphasis, and heavier, riff-oriented sound.


Folk Rock: This subgenre is derived from folk music but uses electric instruments and incorporates the stronger beat of rock music.

Since its origin in the 1950s, rock music has endured as one of the most popular music genres. Chuck Berry, father of rock and roll, released his first hit “Maybellene” in 1955 and it sold a million copies. Berry realized he had discovered an emerging market: white teenagers looking for music that spoke to their generation. Berry spent the next ten years recording rock songs to meet the needs of that group. The popularity of rock grew when the Rolling Stones, one of Berry’s notable followers, expanded the genre by transitioning from singles to cohesive albums. With lyrics that embraced sex and rebellion, the Rolling Stones appealed to that youthful generation as well.
By the 1970s, rock music had become the dominant form of mainstream music. New rock bands such as Pink Floyd and the Sex Pistols formed and helped the genre to evolve further. Mainstream rock started to lose some traction in the 1980s, so bands once again pushed the boundaries of the genre to infuse it with new energy. This was the time of indie rock and alternative rock. With the rise of Nirvana’s “Nevermind” in 1991, alternative rock became the most popular music genre for a time. When it comes to modern-day Americans, rock music often ranks at the top of the list for favorite music genre. Rock music can be used in a wide variety of projects, from television commercials to films, YouTube videos to podcasts.

For a diverse collection of high-quality royalty-free rock music, check out PremiumBeat. With several thousand rock music tracks and a wide range of rock subgenres to explore, you are sure to find the rock sound you need for any media project.

To find your ideal track today, simply head to the PremiumBeat search engine. Click “Genres” and scroll down to “Rock.” We have everything from Alternative-Grunge to Classic Rock, Soft Rock to Heavy Metal. Once you have selected your rock genre of choice, try using our other advanced filters to further specify the sound you want to hear. Use the “Mood” filter to set the tone, “BPM” to determine whether the track will be fast or slow, or “Instruments” to select songs that feature anything from accordion to xylophone. Once you have found the rock tracks that match the mood of your project, add them to your cart and head to checkout. Select a music license, pay a one-time fee, and download your royalty-free rock music in moments.