Pop Music Essay

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The Historical Development of Popular Music (Pop)
Music currently defined as popular music or pop, evolved in the American society many decades ago. Popular music is a wide-ranging combination of many different styles of music such as jazz, country, rock and roll, rap, and even hip-hop. In today’s society, people perceive pop music as cool, pleasant-sounding, and a type music that has the means of changing the American way of life. This unique type of music has played a significant role in shaping our lives. More importantly, it has brought together people of different ages, diverse ethnic backgrounds, and has transformed our culture and others for the better. Thus, it is fair to say, pop music resonates throughout the world, touching people and societies in ways that is baffling to politicians and government leaders. For this reason, popular music has helped make the industry a multi-billion dollar a year business. This highly lucrative business reflects lucidly in all forms of today’s media including film, television, the internet, etc.
Popular music began with the publication of sheet music. Sheet music, which transcribed note-for-note many orchestral symphonic scores for easy reading, sold rapidly throughout America. In the middle to late 19th century, many American homes had a piano for the purpose of entertainment. This unique piece of equipment at the time served as entertainment during social gatherings, and for many families, the instrument was the first that children learned how to play. For those families who desired to have a musical piano in their homes, but had no one to play the extraordinary instrument, the invention of player pianos came forth. This device allowed the user to insert a cylindrical roll, pressed...

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...sic has now entered into the 21st century with no end in sight to its commercial appeal, cultural impact, longevity, or profitability. With each generation, Pop music will always be that arbiter of taste and refinement that reflects all that society has to offer. Even more, several younger artists have come and gone, and new styles have tersely emerged, but nothing appears to have gained a major foothold than that of popular music. Popular music continues to be a melting pot of styles and is pleasing to many of its listeners throughout the world today. People will always listen to music, music labels, and radio stations will continue to track what songs to which people are listening to for the means of personal satisfaction and entertainment. In the midst of it all, popular music (Pop) will always be the foundational centerpiece in which everything revolves around.

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