Changes

Notable pop artists include: [[Whitney Houston]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[George Michael]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and [[Madonna]].

Notable pop artists include: [[Whitney Houston]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[George Michael]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] and [[Madonna]].

== History ==

== History ==

Modern pop music grew out of 1950s [[rock and roll]], (for example [[Chuck Berry]], [[Bo Diddley]] and [[Little Richard]]) and [[rockabilly]] (for example [[Elvis Presley]] and [[Buddy Holly]]). In the 1960s, [[The Beatles]] became a famous pop music group. In the 1970s, other styles of music were mixed with pop music, such as [[funk]] and [[soul music]]. Pop music generally has a heavy (strong) beat, so that it is good for dancing. Pop singers normally sing with microphones that are plugged into an [[amplifier]] and a [[loudspeaker]].

Modern pop music emerged from 1950s [[rock and roll]], (for example [[Chuck Berry]], [[Bo Diddley]] and [[Little Richard]]) and [[rockabilly]] (for example [[Elvis Presley]] and [[Buddy Holly]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pop Rock Music Guide: A Brief History of Pop Rock - 2025|url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/pop-rock|access-date=2025-07-10|website=MasterClass|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-01-24|title=The Evolution of Music Genres|url=https://www.mi.edu/in-the-know/symphony-change-tracing-evolution-music-genres/|access-date=2025-07-10|website=Musicians Institute|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Team|first=AIMM|title=Evolution of Music from the 1950's to the 2000's|url=https://aimm.edu/blog/evolution-of-music-from-the-1950s-to-the-2000s|access-date=2025-07-10|website=aimm.edu|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bo Diddley: The Grandfather of Hip Hop?|url=https://teachrock.org/lesson/bo-diddleys-unconventional-1950s-sound-and-its-anticipation-of-hip-hop/|access-date=2025-07-10|website=TeachRock|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Exploring the Characteristics of Pop Music: Defining the Genre|url=https://houseoftracks.com/faq/what-are-the-4-characteristics-of-popular-music|access-date=2025-07-10|website=House of Tracks|language=en}}</ref> In the 1960s, [[The Beatles]] became a famous band that experimented with pop music.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What made The Beatles global stars?|url=https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/what-made-beatles-global-stars|access-date=2025-07-10|website=National Museums Liverpool}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Jensen|first=Stephanie|date=2022-04-10|title=The Beatles Band History|url=https://rockerainsider.com/bands/the-beatles-band-history/|access-date=2025-07-10|website=Rock Era Insider|language=en-US}}</ref> In the 1970s, other styles of music were mixed with pop music, such as [[funk]] and [[soul music]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2025-07-09|title=Disco {{!}} Music, Songs, History, Artists, & Facts {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/disco|access-date=2025-07-10|website=www.britannica.com|language=en}}</ref> Pop music generally has a heavy (strong) beat, so that it is good for dancing.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reed|first=Amara|date=2025-05-22|title=10 Characteristics of Pop Music That Explain Its Unstoppable Popularity|url=https://bravesmusic.com/10-characteristics-of-pop-music/|access-date=2025-07-10|website=Braves Music|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-09-11|title=What Is Pop Music? Definition, Types, Characteristics, Examples|url=https://promusicianhub.com/what-is-pop-music/|access-date=2025-07-10|website=promusicianhub.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Pop singers normally sing with microphones that are plugged into an [[amplifier]] and a [[loudspeaker]].

== How does the business of pop music work? ==

== How does the business of pop music work? ==

There are also many more people working on pop music who are not seen on the [[stage (theatre)|stage]] or in the [[video]]. These people include the [[studio]] staff (people who help the musicians to record CDs and music videos in music studios), production staff (people who help make the music recordings sound good), distribution staff (people who help sell the music to stores) and retail staff (people that sell the music to people at CD stores).

There are also many more people working on pop music who are not seen on the [[stage (theatre)|stage]] or in the [[video]]. These people include the [[studio]] staff (people who help the musicians to record [[Compact disc|CDs]] and music videos in music studios),<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-10-07|title=What Are The Roles In A Recording Studio?|url=https://connect.audiodope.co/what-are-the-roles-in-a-recording-studio/|access-date=2025-07-10|website=AudioDope Connect|language=en}}</ref> [[Product (business)|production]] staff (people who help make the music recordings sound good),<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-10-21|title=Music Production {{!}} 10 Top Jobs in Music Production|language=en|work=ICMP|url=https://www.icmp.ac.uk/blog/10-top-jobs-music-production|access-date=2025-07-10}}</ref> [[distribution]] staff (people who help sell the music to stores),<ref>{{Cite web|title=What Roles are Involved in Music Distribution?|url=https://www.soundon.global/forum/roles-in-music-distribution|access-date=2025-07-10|website=www.soundon.global}}</ref> and [[retail]] staff (people that sell the music to people at CD stores).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Music Industry Careers: Jobs in Music Retail Stores {{!}} NAMM.org|url=https://www.namm.org/blog/music-industry-careers-jobs-in-music-retail-stores|access-date=2025-07-10|website=www.namm.org|language=en}}</ref>

Tour staff help the band to travel around the country (or around the world) for their concert tours. Some tour staff help by carrying heavy [[musical instrument]]s onto the stage. Other tour staff drive buses or cars, so that the band can get to the concert. Some tour staff operate sound equipment, such as the large [[amplifier]]s and [[loudspeaker]]s that are used to amplify (make louder) the band's music for the audience.

Tour staff help the band to travel around the country (or around the world) for their [[Concert|concert tours]]. Some tour staff help by carrying heavy [[musical instrument]]s onto the stage. Other tour staff drive buses or cars, so that the band can get to the concert.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2023-03-13|title=Touring Careers: Music Industry Job Descriptions|url=https://tourmanager.info/touring-careers/|access-date=2025-07-10|website=Tour Manager Info|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Music Industry Touring Careers. Tour Manager, more.|url=https://www.careersinmusic.com/music-industry-touring-careers/|access-date=2025-07-10|website=Music Careers {{!}} Expert Advice - Careers In Music|language=en}}</ref> Some tour staff operate sound equipment, such as the large [[amplifier]]s and [[loudspeaker]]s that are used to amplify (make louder) the band's music for the [[audience]].<ref name=":0" />

Promotional staff help to market or promote the band's music, so that more people will know about the band, and buy the band's CDs. Some promotional staff travel to radio stations and give the band's CD to radio station managers or DJs (disk jockeys: the people who announce songs on the radio). Other promotional staff write press releases (short articles) about the band which are sent to the newspapers.

Promotional staff help to market or promote the band's music, so that more people will know about the band, and buy the band's CDs. Some promotional staff travel to radio stations and give the band's CD to [[radio station]] managers or [[Disc jockey|DJs]] (disk jockeys: the people who announce songs on the radio). Other promotional staff write [[Press release|press releases]] (short articles) about the band which are sent to the [[Newspaper|newspapers]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|last2=|first2=|last3=|first3=|last4=|first4=|last5=|first5=|last6=|first6=|last7=|last8=|first8=|last9=|first9=|title=Music Marketing and Promotions Specialist Job Description [Updated for 2025]|url=https://interviewguy.com/music-marketing-and-promotions-specialist-job-description/|access-date=2025-07-10|website=interviewguy.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Types of music that became pop music ==

== Types of music that became incorporated into pop music ==

Pop music came from the [[Rock and Roll]] movement of the early [[1950s]], when [[vinyl record|record]] companies recorded songs that they thought that [[teenager]]s would like. Pop music usually uses musical from the other types of music that are popular at the time. Many different styles of music have become pop music during different time periods. Often, music companies create pop music styles by taking a style of music that only a small number of people were listening to, and then making that music more popular by marketing it to teenagers and young adults.

Pop music came from the [[Rock and Roll]] movement of the early [[1950s]], when [[vinyl record|record]] companies recorded songs that they thought that [[teenager]]s would like.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Green|first=Barbara|date=2023-07-13|title=Pop Music: From Origins to Evolution and its Impact on Culture|url=https://www.ourmusicworld.com/archives/2576|access-date=2025-07-10|website=OurMusicWorld.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2025-05-28|title=Popular music {{!}} Description, History, & Facts {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/popular-music|access-date=2025-07-10|website=www.britannica.com|language=en}}</ref> Pop music a lot of the time uses musical from the other types of music that are popular at the time. Many different styles of music have been incorporated into pop music during different time periods.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hughes|first=Emily|date=2024-01-24|title=Pop Music Evolution and Trends|url=https://www.musicalmum.com/pop-music-evolution-and-trends/|access-date=2025-07-10|website=Musical Mum|language=en-US}}</ref> Often, music companies create pop music styles by taking a style of music that only a small number of people were listening to, and then making that music more popular by marketing it to teenagers and young adults.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Pop|first=Essentially|date=2023-06-22|title=The Evolution of Pop Music: A Journey Through Time|url=https://essentiallypop.com/epop/2023/06/the-evolution-of-pop-music-a-journey-through-time/|access-date=2025-07-10|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In the 1950s, recording companies took [[blues]]-influenced [[rock and roll]] (for example [[Chuck Berry]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 5}} and [[Bo Diddley]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 3}}) and [[rockabilly]] (for example [[Carl Perkins]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 8}} and [[Buddy Holly]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 12}}) and promoted them as pop music. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, record companies took [[folk music]] bands and musicians and helped them to create a new type of music called folk rock or acid rock. Folk rock and acid rock mixed folk music, [[blues]] and [[rock and roll]] (for example [[The Byrds]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 33}} and [[Janis Joplin]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 41}}). In the [[1970s]], record companies created several harder, louder type of blues called [[blues rock]] or [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], which became a type of pop music (for example the bands [[Led Zeppelin]] and [[Judas Priest]]).

In the 1950s, recording companies took [[blues]]-influenced [[rock and roll]] (for example [[Chuck Berry]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 5}} and [[Bo Diddley]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 3}}) and [[rockabilly]] (for example [[Carl Perkins]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 8}} and [[Buddy Holly]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 12}}) and promoted them as pop music. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, record companies took [[folk music]] bands and musicians and helped them to create a new type of music called [[folk rock]] or acid rock. Folk rock and [[acid rock]] mixed folk music, [[blues]] and [[rock and roll]] (for example [[The Byrds]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 33}} and [[Janis Joplin]]{{sfn |Gilliland |1969 |loc=show 41}}). In the [[1970s]], record companies created several harder, louder type of blues called [[blues rock]] or [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], which became a type of pop music (for example the bands [[Led Zeppelin]] and [[Judas Priest]]).

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a type of [[nightclub]] dance music called [[Disco]] turned into a popular type of pop music. Record companies took an experimental, strange-sounding type of music called [[New Wave]] music from the [[1980s]] and turned it into pop music bands such as ''[[The Cars]].'' In the [[1990s]] record companies took an underground type of hard rock called [[Grunge]] (for example the band [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]). [[Michael Jackson]] was also a very influential artist for pop music. His album, ''[[Thriller (Michael Jackson album)|Thriller]]'', is the best-selling album of all time. He also wrote some other very influential songs, such as "[[Bad (song)|Bad]]", "Give In to Me", "Will You Be There", "Heal the World", "We Are the World", "Black or White", and "[[Billie Jean]]", just to name a few. By the 21st century (after the demise of [[disco]] in the 1980s)  [[Contemporary R&B]] became pop music. Examples of [[Contemporary R&B]] artists that have a wide pop appeal are [[Usher (musician)|Usher]], [[Beyoncé]], [[Rihanna]], [[Chris Brown (entertainer)|Chris Brown]] and more. Pop rappers [[Flo Rida]] and [[Kesha]] were mainstream in the late 2000s and the early 2010s. Modern pop singers include [[Ariana Grande]], [[Katy Perry]] and [[Lady Gaga]]. [[Nicki Minaj]] blended pop and hip hop in the early 2010s.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a type of [[nightclub]] dance music called [[Disco]] turned into a popular type of pop music. Record companies took an experimental, strange-sounding type of music called [[New Wave]] music from the [[1980s]] and turned it into pop music bands such as ''[[The Cars]].'' In the [[1990s]] record companies took an underground type of hard rock called [[Grunge]] (for example the band [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]]). [[Michael Jackson]] was also a very influential artist for pop music. His album, ''[[Thriller (Michael Jackson album)|Thriller]]'', is the best-selling album of all time. He also wrote some other very influential songs, such as "[[Bad (song)|Bad]]", "Give In to Me", "Will You Be There", "Heal the World", "We Are the World", "Black or White", and "[[Billie Jean]]", just to name a few. By the 21st century (after the demise of [[disco]] in the 1980s)  [[Contemporary R&B]] became incorporated into pop music. Examples of [[Contemporary R&B]] artists that have a wide pop appeal are [[Usher (musician)|Usher]], [[Beyoncé]], [[Rihanna]], [[Chris Brown (entertainer)|Chris Brown]] and more. Pop rappers [[Flo Rida]] and [[Kesha]] were mainstream in the late 2000s and the early 2010s. Modern pop singers include [[Ariana Grande]], [[Katy Perry]] and [[Lady Gaga]]. [[Nicki Minaj]] blended pop and hip hop in the early 2010s.

Many bands and artists are looked as influential in music history, but the English band [[The Beatles]] are the most looked upon band in history because of many of their songs being different types of pop and rock music (even metal and punk). [[Michael Jackson]], [[The Bee Gees]], [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] are many of the artists and bands that look at [[The Beatles]] as a massive influence on their music.

Many bands and artists are looked as influential in music history, but the English band [[The Beatles]] are the most looked upon band in history because of many of their songs being different types of pop and rock music (even metal and punk). [[Michael Jackson]], [[The Bee Gees]], [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] are many of the artists and bands that look at [[The Beatles]] as a massive influence on their music.