From its catchy hooks to its memorable melodies, pop music has reigned in the mainstream music scene for over five decades. Stemming from the term “popular music,” Pop is a genre that is revered by fans for its ever-evolving and widely successful musical styles.

Pop music incorporates a flexible blend of what is an increasingly wide array of genres that range from rock and roll to folk, from urban and dance to country, and from Latin to gospel. No matter how you slice it, Pop is diverse. Pop can also be identified by its tight structure, recurring sections such as repeating choruses and verses, and strong melodies. Although “pop” is a widely-used term for various musical styles today, its true identity is used to define music that originally developed from rock and roll during the mid-1950s. This music instantly appealed to mass audiences, and spiraled onto music charts, ultimately becoming commercial hits.

The true origin of pop, however, can be traced back quite a few decades before it popped onto the scene in the mid-20th century. In fact, the 1920s saw the birth of the contemporary pop industry, with the term “pop song” being used for the first time in 1926. Through new sound recording developments and the distribution of records during the 1930s and 40s, the first prominent pop stars, including Frank Sinatra, appeared. However, once the 1950s rolled along and the first pop music charts were created in 1952, pop truly began its ascent to the top.

By the 1960s and 70s, the genre blasted into popularity as it continued to evolve and incorporated the era’s musical styling such as Glam Rock, punk, and the revolutionary harmonies of the Beatles.

In the 80s, pop music became an almost constant presence as it spread to peoples’ households via TV channels like MTV and was commonly used in movies and other entertainment platforms. All of this exposure attracted viewers, especially with its good-looking artists and trendy music videos. Flash forward to the 1990s, however, and you find the most notable evolution of pop. Manufactured songs by appealing boy bands, girl bands, and other stars made Pop a top competitor in the music industry. From the 2000s to today, pop music continues to dominate charts, media, entertainment, and radio.

Notable singers of the genre include The Beatles, Elton John, ABBA, Michael Jackson, Madonna, ‘N Sync, Kelly Clarkson, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, The Black Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, Maroon 5, and many others.

Current pop singers who are trending include Ariana Grande, One Republic, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Sam Smith, One Direction, Meghan Trainor, and Bruno Mars. No matter what type of music you enjoy, pop has something for you because it truly mixes all genres. So, enjoy the music and Listen up– because this genre isn’t going anywhere soon.