Pop

Pop music is a commercial genre defined by its objective of achieving widespread appeal and chart success. Originating in the mid-20th century from forms like rock and roll, Tin Pan Alley songwriting, and R&B, it prioritizes memorable melodies, repetitive choruses or "hooks," and accessible song structures, typically verse-chorus form. Its sonic palette is intentionally fluid, absorbing contemporary production techniques and stylistic trends. From the studio craft of *The Beatles* to the synthesizer-driven epics of *Michael Jackson*'s "Thriller", pop's primary function remains the creation of broadly relatable, emotionally direct artifacts for a mass consumer audience.