Originally Posted by rubber soul

For someone who was around during 'new wave'. It was basically a term used to make punk sound more commercial. Blondie especially had the new wave tag pinned on them. It would also be the label from more danceable bands like the B-52s. It eventually got so out of hand as by 1980 it had become so trendy that more traditional bands would cash in on the term. Alice Cooper even had one of his biggest hits that year with the 'New Wave' Clones. Shockingly enough, it's actually pretty good.

True punk bands though cringed at the suggestion they were New Wave. I could imagine John Lydon throwing up at the term even now.