popular music
What masses hear
Popular music is music with broad appeal, produced for mass audiences rather than specialized or academic ones.
The term usually contrasts with classical, folk, or art music, though boundaries blur.
Pop, rock, hip-hop, country, and electronic dance music all fall under the umbrella.
She studies popular music of the 1960s.
Often shortened to pop music, though pop can also name a specific style within popular music.
Pleasing sequence of notes
- hookCurved catching device
- chorusSingers performing together
- verseMetered poetic passage
- bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle
refrain · harmony · arrangement · chord progression · key change · modulation · vocal run · riff
Large outdoor advertising structure
- chartsVisual data displays
- rankingsOrdered list by performance
- singlesUnattached individuals
- albumsBound music collections
sales · downloads · streaming · airplay · platinum · gold · certification · record label
Spreading quickly online
- playlistArranged media collection
- influencerPerson with promotional reach
- TikTokShort-form video service
- trendingCurrently gaining widespread attention
zeitgeist · fandom · stan · fanbase · streaming era · algorithm · discovery · hype
Successful contact or strike
- singleOne in number
- trackPath or monitored route
- anthemOfficial song of praise
- balladNarrative poem or song
earworm · classic · banger · release · collaboration · remix · cover · title track
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
- tempoRate of musical performance
- basslineLow-register musical foundation
- drumsStruck membrane instruments
backbeat · syncopation · danceable · upbeat · four-on-the-floor · drop · breakbeat · percussion
melody
Pleasing sequence of notes
bridge · refrain · harmony · arrangement · chord progression · key change · modulation · vocal run · riff · catchy
billboard
Large outdoor advertising structure
albums · sales · downloads · streaming · airplay · platinum · gold · certification · record label · radio play
viral
Spreading quickly online
- playlistArranged media collection
- influencerPerson with promotional reach
- TikTokShort-form video service
trending · zeitgeist · fandom · stan · fanbase · streaming era · algorithm · discovery · hype · buzz
hit
Successful contact or strike
ballad · earworm · classic · banger · release · collaboration · remix · cover · title track · lead single
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
drums · backbeat · syncopation · danceable · upbeat · four-on-the-floor · drop · breakbeat · percussion · BPM
- music majorscomposition, vocal performance, conducting, accompanying, pedagogy
- Central American musicmarimba, revolutionary songs, tun
- music culturefan culture, festival culture, club culture, fandom, fandoms
- music resourcesscores, metronome, songbooks, discographies, tablature
popular musicclassical music
Western orchestral tradition
art music · orchestral music · opera · chamber music · jazz
popular musicexperimental music
Boundary-pushing sonic art
avant-garde music · underground music · noise music · musique concrète · independent music
popular musictraditional music
Culturally inherited sonic art
folk music · sacred music · ethnic music · world music · indigenous music
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