When Was Pop Music Created?

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Origins of Pop Music
Modern Pop Music

A look at the history of pop music and how it has evolved over the years.

Origins of Pop Music

Pre-1920s: Early Influences

Early influences on pop music included Tin Pan Alley songs and Broadway show tunes. American jazz started to influence pop music during the 1920s, as artists such as Paul Whiteman and his band began to experiment with arrangements featuring popular songs sung by crooners. By the 1930s, however,swing bands were more popular than crooners,and American pop music began to be deeply influenced by African American rhythm and blues.

1920s: The Birth of Pop

Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the United States and United Kingdom during the mid-1950s. The terms “popular music” and “pop music” are often used interchangeably, although the former describes all music that is popular and includes many diverse styles. “Pop” and “rock” were roughly synonymous terms until the late 1960s, when they became increasingly differentiated from each other.

Generally, pop music is seen as existing and developing separately from classical or art music. It is manufactured in recording studios, with the aim of being played on commercial radio stations and digital streaming services. Pop artists record songs that are intended to be commercially successful, usually through radio airplay or digital downloads. They typically then embark on pretaped live performances or tours to promote their records.

The exact time when pop music started is difficult to pinpoint, but1920s is generally cited as the decade when it first gained traction. One of the earliest pop hits was “Swanee,” by Al Jolson, which was released in 1919 and spent 10 weeks at the top of Billboard’s chart in 1920. Jolson was a famous vaudeville performer who transitioned to film acting in the early days of Hollywood; his live performances of “Swanee” helped to popularize both recording technology and pop itself. Other important early pop performers include:
-Paul Whiteman and his band, who had several hits in the 1920s including “Whispering” (1920) and “Wonderful One” (1927)
-Jazz singer Bessie Smith, who rose to prominence in the 1920s with her recordings of songs like “Downhearted Blues” (1923) and “St Louis Blues” (1925)
-The Boswell Sisters, a close harmony trio who had several hits in the 1930s including “Close Your Eyes” (1931)

1930s-1940s: The Golden Age of Pop

The 1930s and 1940s are considered the golden age of pop music. This was a time when big bands and crooners ruled the charts and the melodies were often sweet and sentimental. This was also the era of the first pop divas, such as Judy Garland and Doris Day. Some of the most popular songs from this period include “Over the Rainbow,” “Que Sera, Sera,” and “White Christmas.”

The 1950s is often referred to as the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. This was a time when artists like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Jerry Lee Lewis were breaking boundaries with their edgy new sound. Songs like “Rock Around the Clock” and “Great Balls of Fire” changed the face of pop music forever.

The 1960s was a decade of transition for pop music. The early part of the decade was dominated by established acts such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Supremes. But by the end of the 1960s, newer artists like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Led Zeppelin were redefining what pop music could be.

1950s-1960s: The British Invasion

In the 1950s, a number of important changes took place in popular music. One of the most important was the rise of rock and roll, which helped launch the careers of artists like Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry. Another was the rise of Motown Records, which introduced a new sound that would come to be known as soul music.

In the 1960s, two important events occurred that would have a major impact on pop music. The first was the so-called British Invasion, in which a number of British bands, such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, became extremely popular in the United States. The second was the emergence of psychedelic rock, which was pioneered by groups like the Grateful Dead and Jimi Hendrix.

Modern Pop Music

Musicians have been creating and performing what we would now call pop music since the mid-19th century. The term “pop music” was first used in 1926, but it didn’t become common until the 1950s. In the 1960s, pop music became more mainstream with the help of artists such as the Beatles and Motown singers.

1970s-1980s: The Rise of Disco and Hip-Hop

The 1970s saw the rise of disco, which was a combination of soul music, Latin American rhythms, and electronic music. The most famous disco artist was probably Donna Summer. Hip-hop also emerged in the 1970s, with rapper DJ Kool Herc holding parties in the Bronx that featured this new style of music.

1990s-2000s: The Age of Electronic Dance Music

With the advent of digital technology in the late 1980s and early 1990s, music producers began using computers to create and produce music. This new type of music was called electronic dance music (EDM). EDM is a genre of music that is characterized by its use of electronic instruments and electronic effects.

EDM began to gain popularity in the early 1990s, particularly in Europe. In the United States, EDM gained popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with artists such as Moby, Fatboy Slim, and David Guetta becoming popular.

Today, EDM is one of the most popular genres of music in the world. It is often heard at clubs, festivals, and concerts.

2010s-present: The Rise of Streaming Services

The 2010s saw the rise of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, which changed the way people listened to and consumed music. These services gave users access to a vast library of music, which they could listen to at any time, without having to purchase individual songs or albums. This had a major impact on the music industry, as it became easier for people to discover new music and listen to it on demand.

Streaming services also made it easier for artists to release their music directly to fans, without having to go through traditional channels like record labels. This led to a surge in the popularity of independent and unsigned artists, who were able to reach a wider audience than ever before.

The 2010s was a decade of change for the music industry, and it is likely that streaming services will continue to have a major impact in the years to come.

When Was Pop Music Created?