Pop music

Pop music (a term that originally derives from an abbreviation of "popular") is a genre of popular music which originated in its modern form in the 1950s, deriving from rock and roll.^[1] The terms popular music and pop music are often used interchangeably, even though the former is a description of music which is popular (and can include any style), whilst the latter is a specific genre containing qualities of mass appeal.^[1]

As a genre, pop music is very eclectic, often borrowing elements from other styles including urban, dance, rock, Latin and country;^[1] nonetheless, there are core elements which define pop. Such include generally short-to-medium length songs, written in a basic format (often the verse-chorus structure), as well as the common employment of repeated choruses, melodic tunes, and catchy hooks.^[1]

So-called "pure pop" music, such as power pop, features all these elements, using electric guitars, drums and bass for instrumentation;^[1] in the case of such music, the main goal is usually that of being pleasurable to listen to, rather than having much artistic depth.^[1] Pop music is generally thought of as a genre which is commercially recorded and desires to have a mass audience appeal.^[1]

^{In the history of music, the term 'pop music' was first used in 1926. It was used to describe 'a piece of music having popular appeal'. Commercially recorded music, consisting of relatively short and simple love songs is known as 'pop music'. It is associated with the 'rock and roll' style, often tailored for the youth market, that utilizes technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes. Music history informs us that the term 'pop music' originated in Britain in the mid-1950s and implied 'concerts appealing to a wide audience' or 'music that induced dancing spirit' or 'the non classical music, usually in the form of songs', performed by such artists as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Abba, etc.}

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