What is Pop Music? Everything You Need to Know

You are likely familiar with the word ‘Pop’. Pop music has been in trend since the early 20th century in the United States and the UK. Pop music is a perfect blend of different music and genres, which millions of people like. 

We will examine the definition and types of pop music. We will also see what K Pop music is and Indie Pop music, the best pop music artists, and music songs. 

Definition of Pop Music

In many cases, ‘popular music’ and ‘pop music’ are used interchangeably, even though the former refers to all the popular music and the latter refers to a specific genre of popular music. In its authentic and purest form, pop music is the music that is appreciated and people’s favorite at the time. It could be anything from jazz, blues, hip-hop, rock n roll, disco, soul music, etc. The list of genres is endless, but the desire and demand for music changes with time. 

In the music industry, it is the audience that decides what is popular and the reason behind being popular. The more popular genre of music, the more commercial success it will have. To say in simple words, relevant and trending songs are known as pop music. 

Types of Pop Music

Here are a few types of Pop Music. 

1. Rock

Pop Rock is the most common type of pop music. Rock music is typically characterized by driving beats. The most common instruments used in Rock are drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, and horns.

Some Popular Rock Musicians are

  • The Rolling Stones
  • Led Zeppelin 
  • Black Sabbath
  • Aerosmith

2. Jazz

One of the greatest jazz artists is Miles Davis. The major characteristic of jazz is that the music is played with rhythm and harmony. The jazz group consists of drums, bass, piano, guitar, violin, and other instruments. 

Some Popular Jazz Musicians are

  • Duke Ellington
  • Louis Armstrong
  • Charlie Parker 
  • Billie Holiday

3. Hip-Hop and Rap

Hip-hop is more than music. Hip-hop is a musical genre that originated in the inner cities of the United States. Rappers provide vocals in Hip-hop songs. Instead of instruments, the backing music tracks come from a DJ playing record. 

Some Popular Hip-hop and Rap Musicians are

  • Ice Cube 
  • LL Cool J
  • MC Hammer
  • Run-DMC

4. Blues 

Blues music is a genre that began in the southern United States by African-American communities in the late 19th century. Blues emerged as a fusion of religious music and work songs from agricultural fields. 

Some Popular Blues Musicians are

  • Blind Lemmon Jefferson
  • B.B King 
  • Bon House
  • Muddy Waters

5. Folk

Folk music refers to the traditional music of a country. Folk music is extremely associated with the culture of the nation it belongs to. People learn this music by singing it with others. Folk music is the music of people, everyone is expected to sing this song not only professionals.

Some Popular Folk Musicians are

  • Lead Belly
  • Woody Guthrie
  • Simon and Garfunkel
  • Pete Seeger

6. Heavy Metal

Heavy Metal is basically an aggressive form of Rock music with heavy guitars, faster drums, and aggressive vocals. 

Some Popular Heavy Metal Musicians are

  • Megadeth
  • Pantera
  • Slayer
  • Korn

What is K Pop Music?

K Pop is a short form of Korean Pop music. It is a genre that originated in South Korea and has swept the world since. It has left a significant impact on worldwide music. It is characterized by a sprightly blend of catchy warbles, high-energy dance, and accurately produced music videos. It is usual to find elements of jazz, electronic dance music, hip-hop, and even traditional Korean music in its music. 

The early 2010s was a game-changing for K Pop music. It made a significant shift and exploded onto the global stage. Many K Pop groups succeeded beyond Asia and reached the audience in the West. 

But it was BTS that truly took K Pop to a global stage. Their hard work and consistent practices made them successful on international charts. They cultivated a huge fan base internationally, which is a commendable job. 

Today K Pop has established its presence on the global stage, influencing music trends worldwide. 

What is Indie Pop Music?

Indie Pop music originated in the 1980s, a subgenre of Rock music. It is characterized by simple and catchy melodies. Indie Pop musicians write all their songs by themselves instead of employing a team of writers. 

With time, Indie Music has become more successful and influential. Other artists and musicians listen to popular Indie bands that inspire them to create music that pays tribute to the Indie music tradition. 

Some notable examples of Indie Bands include 

  • Modest Mouse ( since 1993 )
  • The Strokes ( since 1998 )
  • The Stone Roses ( since 1983 )
  • Pixies ( since 1986 )
  • Vampire Weekend ( since 2006 )

Best Pop Music Artists 

Let’s take a look at one of the best performers of Pop music. They aim to go above and beyond the norms, giving their audiences the experience of a lifetime. 

  • Rihana 
  • Justin Timberlake 
  • Katy Perry
  • Michael Jackson 
  • Beyonce 

Best Pop Music Songs 

Here’s a vibrant and diverse collection of Pop songs that defines the genre’s popularity globally.

  • ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson
  • ‘Shake It Off’ by Taylor Swift
  • ‘Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)’ by Beyonce 
  • ‘Beat It’ by Michael Jackson
  • ‘Far Away’ by Nickelback
  • ‘Rolling in the Deep’ by Adele
  • ‘Call Me Maybe’ by Carly Rae Jepsen
  • ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pop the best genre?

Pop is considered as the mainstream genre of music. 

Who is the most famous Pop singer? 

Michael Jackson is the most famous Pop singer. 

What are the different types of Pop genres? 

Jazz, Hip-hop, Heavy metal, Blues, Folk, and Rap are some of the Pop genres.

Which country invented Pop Music?

Pop music originated in the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Final Words

As the name suggests, Pop Music is probably the most famous music today. With its simple melodies, relatable lyrics, easy strong structures, and different styles, it has become a fun genre to explore and listen to. Pop music is constantly evolving and we continue to see new pop artists shortly. It is an exciting time for pop music and we are looking forward to listening to new pop tracks in 2024!

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