London is one of the major music capitals in the world and is home to one of the five major global music corporations, EMI. London and its surrounding Home Counties have spawned iconic and popular artists through the years, including The Who, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Cream, Iron Maiden, The Yardbirds, Genesis, Elton John, Yes, Queen, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Radiohead, Keane, Jamiroquai, Coldplay, Sophie Ellis Bextor and Bernard Butler. London's scene for local live bands can be found in Camden and the West End . London is also home to the first and original Hard Rock Cafe and EMI's Abbey Road Studios. More recently, London has been the centre for the UK's thriving urban music scene, with artists like Dillinja (Drum 'n' Bass / Jungle), So Solid Crew (UK Garage), Dizzee Rascal (Grime) and Roots Manuva (UK Hip Hop) becoming popular.

In addition to spawning the bands mentioned above, London, in its capacity as the UK's cultural centre, has served as the base of a number of internationally important acts, including The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix , as well as being instrumental in the birth of dance music.

The Beatles