popular music: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Not exactly. 'Popular music' is the broad umbrella category. 'Pop music' (or 'pop') is a specific genre within popular music, typically characterised by catchy melodies, a verse-chorus structure, and a focus on mainstream appeal, often exemplified by artists like Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran.

Yes, absolutely. Rock, hip-hop, country, R&B, and electronic dance music are all major genres within the broader category of popular music, especially when they achieve mainstream commercial success and cultural penetration.

While music for popular entertainment has always existed, scholars often date the modern concept of 'popular music' to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with the rise of sheet music publishing, phonograph records, radio broadcasting, and the Tin Pan Alley songwriting model.

This is a subjective value judgment. While historically viewed as less prestigious, popular music is now a serious subject of academic study, recognised for its complex cultural, social, and technological significance. Its artistic merit is widely debated and depends on the specific artist and work.

Commercial music intended for and widely appreciated by the general public, as opposed to classical, folk, or experimental music.

Popular music is usually neutral. used in all registers from everyday conversation to academic and business contexts. in register.

Popular music: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɒp.jə.lə ˈmjuː.zɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɑː.pjə.lɚ ˈmjuː.zɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.