Pop music Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Pop
Stylistic origins	Traditional pop rock and roll folk
Cultural origins	Mid-1950s, United States and United Kingdom
Derivative forms	Disco contemporary R&B
Subgenres
Art pop Brill Building bubblegum dance-pop experimental pop hypnagogic pop new wave operatic pop orchestral pop progressive pop sophisti-pop space age pop sunshine pop synth-pop teen pop
Fusion genres
Baroque pop C-Pop country pop electropop folk-pop indie pop K-Pop Latin pop noise pop pop punk pop-rap pop rock psychedelic pop reggae fusion smooth jazz smooth soul
Regional scenes
India Indonesia Hong Kong Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Pakistan Philippines Russia Scandinavia Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey United Kingdom United States Vietnam Western Europe
Other topics
Avant-pop New Pop pop music automation poptimism rock music

Pop music is a very popular type of music that many people enjoy listening to. The word "pop" comes from "popular." It is used for all kinds of music that are made to be liked by a lot of people. The term "pop music" has been used since the late 1800s.

Pop music often changes over time. So, what counts as pop music today might be different tomorrow. In the 2020s, pop music includes styles like rock, electronic dance music, and hip hop.

Where Did Pop Music Come From?
How Pop Music Gets Made and Shared
Different Styles That Became Pop
Images for kids
See also

Where Did Pop Music Come From?

Modern pop music grew from rock and roll in the 1950s. Famous artists like Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Little Richard were important. Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly were also key with their rockabilly style.

In the 1960s, The Beatles became a huge pop music group. They changed music forever. By the 1970s, pop music started mixing with other styles. These included funk and soul music. Pop music usually has a strong beat, which makes it great for dancing. Pop singers often use microphones connected to amplifiers and loudspeakers. This makes their voices louder for the audience.

How Pop Music Gets Made and Shared

Many people work behind the scenes to create and share pop music. These are people you do not see on stage or in music videos.

Studio and Production Teams

Studio staff help musicians record their songs. They work in music studios to make CDs and music videos.
Production staff make sure the music recordings sound amazing. They mix and master the tracks.

Getting Music to Fans

Distribution staff help sell the music to stores. They make sure CDs and digital songs are available.
Retail staff are the people who sell music directly to fans. This happens in CD stores or online.

Helping Bands on Tour

Tour staff help bands travel for their concerts. They go all over the country or even the world.
Some tour staff carry heavy musical instruments onto the stage.
Other staff drive buses or cars to get the band to their shows.
Sound engineers operate the large amplifiers and loudspeakers. They make the band's music loud enough for the audience.

Promoting the Music

Promotional staff help tell people about the band's music. Their goal is to get more fans to buy CDs.
Some visit radio stations. They give the band's CD to radio managers or DJs. DJs are the people who play songs on the radio.
Other promotional staff write short articles called press releases. These are sent to newspapers and websites.

Different Styles That Became Pop

Pop music often takes ideas from other popular music styles. In the 1950s, record companies saw that teenagers liked Rock and Roll. They started recording songs they thought teens would enjoy.

From Blues to Rock

In the 1950s, record companies promoted blues-influenced rock and roll. Artists like Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley became pop stars. Rockabilly artists like Carl Perkins and Buddy Holly also became very popular.

Folk and Disco Pop

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, folk music mixed with rock. This created folk rock or acid rock. Bands like The Byrds and Janis Joplin were examples. In the 1970s, blues rock and heavy metal also became pop music. Bands like Led Zeppelin and Judas Priest were popular.

Later in the 1970s and early 1980s, nightclub dance music called Disco became a huge pop style. In the 1980s, an experimental style called New Wave music also became pop. Bands like The Cars were part of this.

Pop in the 1990s and Beyond

In the 1990s, a type of hard rock called Grunge became popular. The band Nirvana was a big name in grunge. Michael Jackson was a very important pop artist. His album, Thriller, is the best-selling album ever. He also had many other influential songs like "Bad" and "Billie Jean".

After the 1980s, Contemporary R&B became a major part of pop music. Artists like Usher, Beyoncé, and Rihanna are examples. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, pop rappers like Flo Rida and Kesha were very popular. Modern pop singers include Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga. Nicki Minaj mixed pop and hip hop in the early 2010s.

Many bands and artists have influenced music history. The English band The Beatles are seen as one of the most important bands ever. Their songs covered many types of pop and rock music. Artists like Michael Jackson, The Bee Gees, and Nirvana (band) were greatly influenced by The Beatles.

Images for kids

The Oxford Dictionary of Music says "pop" refers to music by artists like the Rolling Stones (pictured here in 2006).
Bing Crosby was one of the first artists called "King of Pop" or "King of Popular Music."
The 1960s British Invasion brought many British acts to the US charts, like the Beatles (pictured 1964).