The Most Popular Genre of Pop Music, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the genre you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 11, 2024 06:39
Pop music, a dynamic and influential part of musical culture, often shifts rapidly with trends and tastes. Having a clear, crowd-sourced ranking helps provide an informative snapshot of what styles are currently captivating the largest audiences. It's a fascinating way to see how public preferences align and differ across various pop music styles.
By participating in this ranking, visitors contribute directly to the accuracy of the list, reflecting the true popularity of each genre at a given time. Your votes matter here, enabling a democratic, real-time reflection of what is resonating with listeners now. Encouraging participation ensures that the ranking stays fresh and relevant, mirroring the ever-changing landscape of pop music.
What Is the Most Popular Genre of Pop Music?
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157votesDance-pop characterized by upbeat rhythms, synthesized melodies, and catchy hooks. Examples include Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears.Dance-pop is a subgenre of pop music that combines elements of dance music with catchy pop hooks. It is characterized by upbeat tempos, electronic beats, and synthesized sounds. Dance-pop songs are usually accompanied by energetic and danceable rhythms, making them popular choices for clubs and parties.
- Upbeat Tempo: Dance-pop songs are typically upbeat, with fast tempos that encourage dancing.
- Electronic Beats: The genre incorporates electronic beats, which add a rhythmic and energetic touch to the music.
- Synthesized Sounds: Dance-pop often features synthesized sounds and electronic instrumentation, creating a futuristic and danceable vibe.
- Catchy Pop Hooks: Dance-pop emphasizes catchy and memorable pop hooks, making the songs highly accessible and enjoyable.
- Energetic Rhythms: The genre relies on energetic rhythms that inspire movement and dancing.
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244votesHip-hop/pop a fusion of hip-hop and pop music, featuring rap verses and singable choruses. Examples include Drake, Post Malone, and Cardi B.
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324votesElectro-pop a blend of electronic music and pop, often featuring a retro or futuristic sound. Examples include Daft Punk, The Weeknd, and Robyn.Electro-pop is a subgenre of pop music that is characterized by its fusion of electronic elements and catchy pop melodies. It emerged in the late 1970s and gained significant popularity during the 1980s. Electro-pop incorporates synthesizers, drum machines, and other electronic instruments to create a modern, futuristic sound. The genre is often known for its upbeat, danceable tracks and polished production techniques.
- Synthesizers: Extensive use of synthesizers to create electronic soundscapes.
- Catchy Melodies: Emphasis on memorable, pop-infused melodies.
- Drum Machines: Frequent use of programmed drum machines for rhythmic patterns.
- Futuristic Sound: Incorporation of futuristic and technological elements in the music.
- Danceable Beats: Tracks often have infectious beats, suitable for dancing.
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425votesR&B/pop a mix of rhythm and blues and pop, featuring soulful vocals and groovy beats. Examples include Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, and Justin Timberlake.R&B/pop is a genre of popular music that combines elements of rhythm and blues (R&B) and pop music. It typically features catchy melodies, smooth vocals, and contemporary beats. R&B/pop has gained popularity since the 1990s and has become a dominant genre in mainstream music.
- Influenced by: Rhythm and Blues (R&B) and Pop music
- Characteristics: Catchy melodies, smooth vocals, contemporary beats
- Popularity: Gained popularity since the 1990s and has become a dominant genre in mainstream music
- Notable Artists: Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Babyface
- Commercial Success: Many R&B/pop songs have achieved commercial success and topped charts worldwide
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512votes
Pop rock
The BeatlesPop rock a fusion of rock and pop, featuring electric guitars and catchy melodies. Examples include Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, and OneRepublic.Pop rock is a genre of popular music that combines elements of pop and rock music. It typically features catchy melodies, strong hooks, and a guitar-driven sound. The genre emerged in the 1960s and gained significant popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. Pop rock is known for its energetic and upbeat sound, with a focus on memorable choruses and accessible lyrics.- Instruments: Electric guitars, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, occasionally horns or strings
- Vocals: Lead vocals often with harmonies, emphasis on clear and melodic singing
- Rhythm: Strong backbeat, typically driven by drums and bass
- Melody: Catchy and memorable melodies
- Guitars: Prominent use of electric guitars, both rhythm and lead
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614votesManuManu38 · CC BY-SA 4.0Indie pop a genre that originated in the indie music scene, featuring DIY production, introspective lyrics, and catchy hooks. Examples include Lorde, Vampire Weekend, and Tame Impala.Indie pop is a music genre that combines elements of independent music with a pop sensibility. It typically features catchy melodies, introspective lyrics, and a DIY (do-it-yourself) ethos. The sound of indie pop can vary, ranging from jangly guitars and sweet harmonies to electronic and synthesized elements.
- Catchy melodies: Indie pop songs often feature memorable and infectious melodies that can be immediately appealing.
- Introspective lyrics: The lyrics in indie pop tend to be introspective, personal, and often touch on deeper emotions, relationships, and introspection.
- DIY ethos: Indie pop artists often embrace a DIY ethos, meaning they take a self-reliant and independent approach to creating and promoting their music.
- Variety of instrumentation: Indie pop incorporates a wide range of instrumentation, which can include guitars, keyboards, synthesizers, electronic beats, and more.
- Cultural diversity: Indie pop has gained popularity worldwide, with artists and bands from various cultural backgrounds contributing to the genre.
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78votesSynth-pop a genre that emerged in the 1980s, featuring synthesizers, electronic drums, and pop melodies. Examples include Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, and New Order.Synth-pop is a genre of popular music that emerged in the late 1970s and continued to thrive throughout the 1980s. It combines elements of pop music with synthetic instrumentation and electronic sound production. Synth-pop is characterized by catchy melodies, electronic beats, and the prominent use of synthesizers, drum machines, and other electronic instruments.
- Period: Late 1970s to 1980s
- Influences: Kraftwerk, Brian Eno
- Catchy melodies: Hook-driven songwriting
- Synthetic instrumentation: Heavy use of synthesizers and drum machines
- Electronic sound production: Experimentation with electronic effects and processing
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814votes
U.S. Navy photo by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Seth Rossman. · Public domainTeen pop
Lou PearlmanTeen pop a subgenre of pop music that is marketed towards teenagers, often featuring clean lyrics and flashy visuals. Examples include Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift.Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is specifically targeted towards teenage audiences. It is characterized by its catchy melodies, upbeat tempos, and relatable lyrics that often revolve around themes of love, relationships, and youthful experiences. Teen pop aims to appeal to teenage listeners by tailoring its sound and lyrics to resonate with their interests and emotions.- Rise in the late 1990s: Teen pop surged in popularity during the late 1990s with acts like Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and Britney Spears.
- Focus on clean and wholesome image: Teen pop artists often maintain a clean and wholesome image to appeal to young audiences and their parents.
- Simple and accessible melodies: Teen pop songs typically have simple and accessible melodies that are easy to sing along to.
- Emphasis on choreographed dance routines: Many teen pop acts incorporate choreographed dance routines into their performances to enhance their appeal and entertainment value.
- Popularity influenced by teen-oriented media: Teen pop gained popularity through exposure on teen-oriented media platforms like MTV, radio stations, and magazines.
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91votesCountry pop a fusion of country music and pop, featuring twangy guitars and sing-along choruses. Examples include Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban.Country pop is a popular music genre that blends elements of country music with pop music. It combines the twangy sounds and storytelling lyrics of traditional country with catchy melodies and modern production techniques of pop music. The genre gained prominence during the 1970s and has continued to evolve ever since, attracting a wide audience.
- Influences: Influenced by country music, pop music, and rock music.
- Instrumentation: Typically includes guitars (acoustic and electric), drums, bass, keyboards, and occasionally fiddles and pedal steel guitars.
- Lyrics: Often revolve around themes of love, relationships, and everyday life.
- Melody: Catchy and easy to sing along with.
- Vocals: Vocal harmonies and smooth, polished singing style.
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103votes
Alejandro Bárcenas · CC BY 2.5Latin pop
Enrique IglesiasLatin pop a genre that originated in Latin America, featuring Spanish-language lyrics and infectious rhythms. Examples include Shakira, Ricky Martin, and Jennifer Lopez.Latin pop is a genre of popular music that combines elements of Latin American music and pop music. It often incorporates Latin rhythms, such as salsa, merengue, reggaeton, and bachata, with catchy pop melodies and lyrics. Latin pop artists sing primarily in Spanish, although some songs may also include English or Spanglish lyrics to appeal to a wider audience. The genre gained popularity in the 1990s and continues to be influential in the global pop music scene today.- Language: Primarily Spanish
- Influences: Latin American music, pop music
- Rhythms: Salsa, merengue, reggaeton, bachata
- Lyrics: Often romantic or dance-themed
- Pioneering Artist: Ricky Martin
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Discussion
Ranking factors for popular genre
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Radio play and airtimeA genre that receives a lot of radio airplay is generally considered popular, as radio stations usually play tracks based on audience demand. A genre with more airtime is likely to appeal to a larger audience.
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Chart placementsChart positions, such as on the Billboard Hot 100 or iTunes, are another way to measure the popularity of a genre. A genre that consistently has songs in the top positions of the charts is likely to be more popular.
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Public opinion and fanbaseThe size and enthusiasm of a genre's fanbase can also be a factor in determining popularity. A genre with a dedicated and passionate following is likely to be more popular than one without.
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Festival, concert and event attendanceThe popularity of a genre can be measured by the number of people attending live performances, festivals, and other events featuring music from that genre.
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Social media presence and engagementA genre's presence on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook can indicate its popularity. High levels of engagement, such as likes, comments, shares, and followers, can suggest a strong following and interest in the genre.
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Cultural impact and influenceA genre that has a significant impact on culture, fashion, and art is likely to be popular. The more a genre influences the trends and styles of a society, the more popular it is likely to be.
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Awards and recognitionAwards, such as the Grammy or MTV Music Awards, can indicate a genre's popularity. The more recognition a genre receives through these awards, the more likely it is to be considered popular.
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Collaboration with popular artistsA genre that frequently collaborates with popular artists from other genres is likely to be popular, as it appeals to a wider audience.
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Longevity and growthA genre that has been consistently popular over time and continues to grow is likely to be considered more popular than one that has a short-lived peak in popularity.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular genre of Pop music. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Genre is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 2317 views
- 196 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Genre once every 24 hours. The rank of each Genre is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular genre of pop music
Pop music has been a beloved genre for decades, with its catchy beats and relatable lyrics capturing the hearts of music lovers worldwide. From upbeat dance tracks to emotional ballads, pop music has evolved over the years to encompass a variety of styles and sub-genres. However, when it comes to determining the most popular genre of pop music, opinions can vary widely. Some might argue that upbeat, dance-oriented pop music is the most popular, while others might argue that emotional ballads and power ballads are the true stars of the pop music world. With so many talented artists and diverse styles to choose from, determining the most popular pop music genre is a challenging task. At StrawPoll, we're dedicated to exploring this topic and providing insights into what pop music fans are really listening to. Join us as we delve into the world of pop music and discover the most popular genres that are dominating the charts and airwaves today.
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