The Beatles were more than their music. They have influenced the lives of millions of people unlike any musician before them. They were the first and most popular band of one of the most important musical movements in American history, the British Invasion. 1964 was the year that both the British Invasion and "Beatlemania" came to America and forever changed the landscape of music in the United States by introducing the genre of pop, as it is today. The Beatles changed the rules of music. Many things that are considered normal today were pioneered by the Beatles, such as creating compilation albums, expressing their opinions on world events through the media, musicians in films, and even mass media advertising. The Beatles influenced American culture more than any other musical artist in history (Jacobs, 2004). Before the Beatles arrived in the United States in 1964, American society was in a valley of negativity. The following are some of the big headlines the American people have had to endure: President John F. Kennedy, one of the most popular presidents ever, was assassinated in November 1963. President Lyndon B. Johnson was increasing state involvement United in Vietnam, which was also creating tax increases, all despite the protests of millions of Americans. Cops on national television beat up followers of Martin Luther King Jr.. All this negative publicity surrounding the American public meant that people, especially young people, needed something to take their minds off the depression raging around them. “The Beatles – with their cheeky wit and catchy, upbeat pop songs – proved the perfect anecdote for America's collective depression” (Hoffman). Fortunately for the American public and the music industry...... middle of paper .. ....these things alone are what make them the most influential band in the history of American music. They also revolutionized the definition of an album. Before the Beatles, albums consisted of hit songs in no particular order. People only listened to popular songs by artists who were on the radio. There was no concept of compiling songs to create a purpose. The Beatles' albums were composed and arranged in a certain order to create a common theme, atmosphere and meaning. The idea of ​​putting songs together on an album to focus on a cause influenced all subsequent artists. Today, all artists release albums that have a common purpose or theme. The Beatles revolutionized the common perception of what an album should be, and every album today takes inspiration from the Beatles' albums of the late 1960s. Besides that, the “fab four” changed the normal appearance of popular bands.