The Top 10 German music acts of the new millennium

Russian-German producer Anton Zaslavski, aka Zedd, isn't even 30 but he’s already an electro superstar. His breakthrough came in 2012 with the song “Clarity”. Featuring British singer Foxes, the single went to number 8 on the U.S. charts and was honored with a Grammy as the year’s “Best Dance Recording”.

Osnabrück-born DJ and producer Robin Schulz is another high-flying electro artist in our Top 10. He first became known for remixing tracks by other artists, but now has hits of his own in his repertoire. Schulz's trademarks: his sunglasses and funky house beats.

Bill Kaulitz and crew have had a passionate following ever since they made the leap from Magdeburg to the international music scene. But after their 2009 global hit album “Humanoid”, the hullaballoo became a bit too much. They went on hiatus, finally returning in 2014 with the album “Kings of Suburbia” – which likewise graced the international charts.

Paul van Dyk was born and raised in the former East Germany. In the 1990s he was a major player on the German techno scene, and at events such as the Love Parade. He’s been proclaimed the world’s best DJ several times and remains in high demand around the globe. Since the turn of the millennium, he’s had 8 more international hit singles.

Sarah Connor’s father hails from New Orleans, the capital of jazz – perhaps part of what accounts for her career as the diva of German soul. Her 2001 debut album, featuring the hit single “From Sarah with Love”, made her a star. She’s already sold seven million albums to date – and has made a name for herself outside Germany, too.

Crazy Frog comes in at number five in Germany’s top acts of the new millennium. It was the creation of German producer team Bass Bumpers, who transformed what started as an animated frog in a cell phone jingle into a pop star. Crazy Frog leaped to the top of the charts in eight countries with its remake of “Axel F”, a 1980s classic recorded by Harold Faltermeyer.

In 1998, the single “9 PM (Till I Come)” sold about 700,000 copies and topped the British charts, paving the way into the new millennium for DJ André Tanneberger aka ATB. The mix of guitar samples and gentle techno sounds became ATB’s trademark. Though he didn’t land any more number one hits, he’s been a perennial presence in the charts.

The Bonn dance act with frontwoman Natalie Horler are a smash hit the world over. With “Everytime We Touch” – their cover of Scottish singer Maggie Reilly's original – Cascada went gold and platinum in several countries. In 2009, their single “Evacuate the Dancefloor” brought Cascada to the top of the British charts.

Explosive, provocative, and hugely successful – Rammstein have sold more than 16 million albums to date. In the new millennium, every Rammstein studio album has cracked the German, British and U.S. charts – despite their lyrics being in German. After a lengthy hiatus, the Berlin group are working on a new album.

Scooter are the most successful German act of the 21st century. They sailed through the turn of the millennium in trademark style, churning out hard electro beats to snappy lyrics by frontman H. P. Baxxter. Their biggest coup, “Jumping All Over the World”, was released in 2008 – and it even toppled Madonna from the no. 1 spot in the British charts.