Definition

Noun: * Popular music: A broad category of music created with the primary intention of achieving commercial success and widespread appeal among a large, general audience. It is typically distributed through mass media channels and is often contrasted with classical, folk, or art music. Its styles and trends are frequently subject to change.

Usage

• Popular music is characterized by its accessibility, memorable melodies, and often simple song structures.
• The term popular music encompasses many changing subgenres, from rock and pop to hip-hop and electronic dance music.
• Scholars study the cultural and social impact of popular music.

Examples

• The radio station plays a mix of current and classic popular music.
• Her thesis analyzes the evolution of popular music in the digital age.
• The festival lineup features artists from various popular music genres.

Advanced Usage

• "Popular music studies": An academic field that critically examines popular music's production, consumption, and cultural meaning.
• "Popular music culture": Refers to the lifestyles, practices, and identities associated with the consumption and appreciation of popular music.

Variants and Related Words

• Pop music (n.): Often used interchangeably with "popular music," but can also refer more specifically to a particular, melody-driven genre within the broader category.
• Popular song (n.): A single composition within the realm of popular music.

Synonyms

• Commercial music
• Mainstream music

Antonyms

• Classical music
• Art music
• Folk music (in its traditional, non-commercial sense)

Related Phrases

• Chart music: Music that appears on popularity sales or airplay charts.
• Top 40: A format and chart for the most popular current songs, representative of mainstream popular music.

Noun

1. any genre of music having wide appeal (but usually only for a short time)