• History

25 Classic TIME Music Covers

1 minute read
TIME
By Lily Rothman

She may be a record breaker but Taylor Swift is far from the first musician to make the cover of TIME. Since the year of TIME’s founding, people who make the world sing along have been featured on the cover — starting with Giulio Gatti-Casazza, an Italian opera manager, in November 1923. Though early music coverage in the magazine was dominated by opera and classical music, it wasn’t long before pop took over. Here, check out 25 of our favorite TIME covers starring musicians at the top of their games.

Read TIME’s new cover story about the singer: The Power of Taylor Swift

The Dixie Chicks (May 29, 2006)JILL GREENBERG FOR TIME
Kanye West (Aug. 29, 2005)KWAKU ALSTON FOR TIME
Ricky Martin (May 24, 1999)TIME
Lauryn Hill (Feb. 8, 1999)TIME
Jewel (July 21, 1997)HERB RITTS
Pearl Jam (Oct. 25, 1993)NEAL PRESTON
Garth Brooks (March 30, 1992)JAMES SCHNEPF / GAMMA LIAISON
Madonna (May 27, 1985)FRANCESCO SCAVULLO
Michael Jackson (March 19, 1984)ANDY WARHOL
David Bowie (July 18, 1983)TIME
The Who (Dec. 17, 1979)TIME
Linda Ronstadt (Feb. 28, 1977)MILTON GREENE
Paul McCartney (May 31, 1976)RICHARD E. AARON
Elton John (July 7, 1975)DON WELLER
Cher (March 17, 1975)RICHARD AVEDON
Joni Mitchell (Dec. 16, 1974)BOB PEAK
James Taylor (March 1, 1971)J. H. BRESLOW
The Band (Jan. 12, 1970)BOB PEAK
Aretha Franklin (June 28, 1968)BORIS CHALIAPIN
The Beatles (Sept. 22, 1967)TIME
Joan Baez (Nov. 23, 1962)TIME
Frank Sinatra (Aug. 29, 1955)TIME
Rosemary Clooney (Feb. 23, 1953) BORIS CHALIAPIN
Louis Armstrong (Feb. 21, 1949)BORIS ARTZYBASHEFF
Bing Crosby (Apr. 7, 1941)ERNEST HAMLIN BAKER

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Write to Lily Rothman at lily.rothman@time.com