By: Wafadina Shamimi binti Md Shazaly (2023299244)
From vinyl to viral, pop music is the vibe that never dies.
Whether it’s blasting through old-school radios or trending on TikTok, pop music has always been the heartbeat of American culture.
One minute it’s Madonna reinventing the game, the next it’s SZA or Sabrina Carpenter dropping songs that dominate your FYP.
Welcome to the world where every beat tells a story—and every chorus hits like a memory.
HISTORY & EVOLUTION OF POP MUSIC
1950
The 1950s marked a landmark shift in popular culture. The so-called Rock and Roll music was the order of the day. It presented a very clear shift from the traditional instrumental music, such as classical music, folk music and jazz music variants. It combines elements from African American blues with country music, gospel and other southern traditions, becoming everyone’s favourite popular music (FilmPosters UK, n.d.).
1960
In 1960s, British Invasion led by bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones revolutionised the genre and brought it to new heights of popularity around the world. The influence of these British bands extended beyond their own success, inspiring American artists and sparking a cultural exchange that shaped the future of rock music.
1970
The era of Disco with acts like Donna Summer, a disco superstar and Gloria Gaynor dominating the chart and the rise of singer songwriters like Joanie Mitchell and James Taylor added a more personal touch to pop music.
1980
The emergence of Music Television or MTV that revolutionised the way music was consumed and propelled pop icons like Michael Jackson and Madonna with their innovative music videos and popular hits. This visibility gave rise to a new era of music stars who became household names, thanks to their videos being played on every TV in America.
1990
A wave of alternative and Hip Hop influences with acts like Nirvana, TLC and Mariah Carey dominating the airwaves. According to Rock Music Timeline (n.d.), pop and teen-pop continue to appeal to a younger radio audience with the Backstreet Boys, and The Spice Girls having major success.
Digital Era
The turn of the Millennium saw the rise of digital music and the internet, transforming the industry and giving rise to a new generation of pop starts like Britney Spears and Beyoncé. Faster chips, more memory, and the internet led to faster distribution. The existence of social media platforms accelerated the process even more.
Global Impact of Pop Music
Pop Music Festivals
Coachella: Why Is It So Popular?
Coachella is not only a musical experience, but a once-in-a-lifetime-concert surrounded by influential people. People travel to visit Coachella because of the reputation it has with celebrities and social media influencers (Prado, 2019).
The Artists
In recent years, the festival has become more popular due to the celebrities who perform on the Coachella stage. A list of celebrities including Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, and more performed at 2019’s festival. Artists who usually do not perform at the same event come together at Coachella and create a once-in-a lifetime experience for the people attending.
Social Media
On social media, Coachella is portrayed as a great experience and a place of fun. For many influencers, attending Coachella is important because of the content that they can produce at the festival, the pictures they post online, and the deals they make promoting products at the festival. Many of the people attending the festival have a big following on social media and affect how the festival is seen.
The Cultural Impact of Woodstock 1969
- The culture in the sixties was heavily influenced by politics and the Vietnam war. The festival became a platform for expressing opposition to war, advocating for peace, and promoting civil rights.
- The music at Woodstock was what inspired revolutions, and let people feel safe in their distrust of authority and mainstream culture.
- According to Fricke (2019), “It was a success and a failure in equal measure and, like any accident, impossible to repeat. And probably not worth trying to repeat, but worth learning from.”
