While musical groups and bands have been intentionally created since the beginning of pop music (such as the early doo-wop groups, the Monkees, and Jackson 5), the 1990s witnessed the rise of the so-called “boy band.” These boy bands, such as New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys, and ’N Sync, featured between three and six young adult males who typically sang, but did not play instruments. The boy bands of the 1990s were often created by record companies or talent agencies, and they often had a commercial orientation.
A boy band’s image was often one of the most important elements of the group, perhaps even more so than the music itself. Almost all aspects of the group’s image were carefully controlled, from their dress to even the stereotypes that the group members fit into, such as the “bad boy,” the “baby,” and the “nice boy.” Performances by the boy bands often featured highly choreographed dance routines. Today, the trend of boy bands has continued in groups like the Jonas Brothers.
The trend of pop ballads continued to be popular as the current time approached, and the general themes of love, romance, broken hearts, and relationships continued to dominate the music. Pop music also continued to be oriented toward young people, although its reach extends beyond teens and young adults. Joining perennial pop stars like Madonna and Janet Jackson are popular artists today, such as Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Lady GaGa, Justin Bieber, Pink, and others. While the music has changed in some ways with the greater technology available today, the emphasis on the artists’ images, commercial profits, and the broad appeal of the music continues.
In this unit, we considered the genre of pop music. Pop music is one form of popular music that exists today. Drawing on earlier music traditions and genres, pop music grew out of the beginnings of rock and roll. It offered individuals catchy tunes and lyrics that spoke about universal themes such as love and romance. Widely influenced by technological advances over the last half century, pop music has continued to be a popular form of music that has influenced areas including fashion and music videos.
Think About
- What is pop music? How is pop music related to popular music?
- What are the characteristics of pop music? What sets this genre apart from other popular music?
- How has technology influenced the development of pop music?
- What have been some of the developments and changes in pop music?
- What is pop music like today?
Journal Activity: Answer these questions in your journal.