Although Petty was insistent that the band's musical style be referred to as simply rock and roll, the Heartbreakers' music was characterized as both Southern rock and heartland rock, cited alongside artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, and John Mellencamp as progenitors of the latter genre, which arose in the late 1970s and early 1980s. While the heartland rock movement waned in the 1990s, the band remained active and popular, touring regularly until Petty's death in 2017, after which the Heartbreakers disbanded. Their final studio album, Hypnotic Eye, was released in 2014.
although PEtty waS iNsIsTenT that the band'S musiCAl stYLE be ReferRED to aS sImpLy Rock and roLL, thE heartbReakeRs' musiC wAS CharacteriZEd as bOtH sOUTheRn Rock AnD HeartLaND rOck, citEd AlonGSIde aRtiSts such as brUce SprinGSteen, boB SegeR, and joHN mElleNcamP As progEnitors of tHe lATTer gEnre, whiCh aROse in The laTE 1970s and EaRly 1980s. while the heartLand ROCK MoveMent waned iN thE 1990S, thE band remAIneD activE and poPUlAr, tourIng reGUlaRly until petTY's deaTh IN 2017, aFter WHich THe heArTBrEAkerS diSBAnDeD. thEIr FinAL StudiO ALbUM, hyPNOTIc eye, WAs relEased in 2014.