The origins of pop music They were looking for popular artists and printed their music for sale, making it available for other musicians to perform. In the early 1900s, when the phonograph was introduced, this evolved to listening to recorded performances, kickstarting physical sales of music.

During the 1950s and 1960s, pop encompassed rock and roll and the youth-oriented styles it influenced. Rock and pop remained roughly synonymous until the late 1960s, after which pop became associated with music that was more commercial, ephemeral, and accessible.

In Western pop, musicians are essentially chosen for their talent, which is cultivated in their own time. In the Western pop world, most singers (not all) do have a hand in the production of their songs. That being said, this is slowly changing in Korea and more musically-talented idols are beginning to surface.

The first major pop stars as such were the crooners of the 1930s and ’40s. Bing Crosby sold millions of records, as did Frank Sinatra (arguably the first modern pop star, with screaming teenage female fans – the bobbysoxers), and in Britain, Al Bowly.

They have a good rhythm, a catchy melody, and are easy to remember and sing along to. They usually have a chorus that’s repeated several times and two or more verses. Most pop songs are between two and five minutes long, and the lyrics are usually about the joys and problems of love and relationships.

Shawn Mendes