Pop is a genre characterized by generally short to medium-length songs written in a basic format (often the verse-chorus structure), as well as common use of repeated choruses, melodic tunes, and hooks. Often borrows elements from styles such as Urban, Dance, Rock, Latin, and Country.
Subgenres[]
Alt-Pop[]
Alternative pop, or Alt-Pop, is a term used to describe pop music with broad commercial appeal that is made by figures outside the mainstream, or which is considered more original, challenging, or eclectic than traditional pop music. It combines Pop conventions with alternative/indie genre sensibilities, sometimes on a more minimal and contemplative atmosphere.
Ambient Pop[]
Ambient Pop mixes the traditional structure of pop music with electronic instrumentation and atmospheric synthwork that draws from Ambient and Electronica.
Art Pop[]
Art Pop is a form of pop music often regarded as artistic or inventive, with poetic or oblique lyricism and experimenting with different genres while still remaining accessible.
Chillwave[]
A form of Indie Dance characterized by a faded or dreamy retro pop sound, escapist lyrics, psychedelic or lo-fi aesthetics, mellow vocals, low-to-moderate tempos, effects processing, and vintage synthesizers.
Dancehall Pop[]
Dancehall Pop combines Western pop music with Jamaican dancehall, using less of Jamaican patois, allowing it to be globally understood. It moves away from the reggae/roots reggae music origins in social and political protest, now lyrically centering on partying, dancing, and sexuality.
Dancepop[]
A style of pop music with influences from Disco, Post-Disco and Synthpop, it is generally characterised by strong beats with easy, uncomplicated song structures which are generally more similar to pop music than the more free-form dance genre, with an emphasis on melody as well as catchy tunes.
Electropop[]
A music genre combining elements of Electronic and Pop genres. Usually, it is described as a variant of Synthpop with heavy emphasis on its electronic sound. The genre has seen a revival of popularity and major influence since the 2000s.
Hyperpop[]
A style of pop music that uses brash synth melodies, auto-tuned vocals and excessive compression and distortion, with references to the 2000s internet culture. It also typically uses elements from Electronic, Hip Hop and Dance music.
Indie Pop[]
A music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music, focusing on building an organic atmosphere through the use of non-synthesizer instruments, being closely related to Indie Rock. The term was coined to describe bands on independent labels that embraced a more melodic, less abrasive and pop-oriented sound while still retaining the DIY and stripped-back approach of Punk.
Industrial Pop[]
Industrial Pop fuses the cold and hard sounds of Industrial music with the catchy dance beat of Pop, using harsh screaming vocals, often having themes of emotion, but also tending towards Gothic and more profound meanings.
Synthpop[]
Synthpop is a style of pop music led with a prominent synthesizer sound, as well as the use of drum machines and sequencers, originating in the early 1980s.
