"New Wave" is really just a term that was invented to categorize newer artists that came along in a time period different to the standard sub-genres of rock and pop that had already dominated the music business. (Similar to terms Alternative or Indie of the last couple decades) Also during the New Wave era, genre terms would evolve into different terms for the same musical style. i.e. Euro-disco to Techno-pop to Synth-pop.
"A New Wave of Rock & Roll Music"
Genre: New Wave
Sub-Genres:
New Romantic
Techno-Pop
Post-Punk
Synth-Pop
Guitar-Pop
Futurist
British-Pop
Early Punk
Minimal Synth
Italo-Disco
Jangle-pop
Euro-Disco
Power-Pop
Paisley Underground
2nd Wave Ska
Coldwave
Goth
Early Industrial
EBM
80's Mod
Alternative
80's Rockabilly
Sophisti-Pop