The music industry has been steadily declining since cassette tapes became obsolete, pushed aside by CDs and MP3s. But the music industry is making a rebound, thanks largely to the meteoric rise in popularity of streaming music services. According to Billboard, music streaming is now the largest revenue source for the music industry in the U.S., and it’s expected to grow even further as more people stream music on mobile devices. However, the top music genres in the U.S. have remained relatively constant over the years.
Music is inescapable. It’s everywhere. It’s in our cars, houses, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and even our closets. This means we have music wherever we have the musical instruments. But what does music mean to you? Do you associate music with soothing sounds to help you relax or boost you up? Do you listen to your favorite songs while working out or cleaning the house? Do you prefer upbeat songs to get you in the mood to have fun, or do you prefer a more subdued tune to help you wind down on a rainy day? Whatever your response, music is a powerful force in our lives. But what is the most popular genre of music in the world?
There is really no “one size fits all” answer when it comes to music. While there are certainly some universally enjoyed genres-such as pop, country, and rock-others may be more polarizing. In fact, some may even argue that there is no “number one” music genre on the planet. Maybe that’s because music is subjective, and some people’s tastes and opinions are stronger than others. For example, a concert by a heavy metal band like Metallica (see Metallica concerts tour setlist) may be preferred by some people, while others may prefer attending an EDM festival. Music tastes are typically influenced by likes and dislikes towards certain genres.
Music is an art form enjoyed by people all over the world. But which music genre is the most popular? The answer may surprise you, and it’s one that may surprise yours, too.
The music industry is constantly changing, and as technology advances, music listeners are finding new ways and places to access their favorite songs and artists. Yahoo Music released a study that details the most popular genres and artists in the world, based on data from streaming platforms and music portals across 25 different countries. The study, “We Are the World: The Most Popular Music Genres and Artists Worldwide,” found that the most popular genres in each country were different; Pop, Rock, and Dance music ruled the U.S., while Hindi music, Bengali music, and EDM ruled in India.
When you walk into a radio shop, you see all kinds of music. There’s Pop music, Rock music, Emo music, Jazz music, Rap music, Country music, and so much more. So why aren’t their charts for each type of music? Why not just the top 10 songs in each category? It’s because while there are a ton of different genres, there is one genre that dominates all others: Pop music. Pop music is the most popular music genre in the world, and it holds 51 percent of the global music market.
Music fans around the world love their music, and these days, there are a variety of ways to get the music you enjoy. Whether you’re on your smartphone or streaming your music on an app or streaming it from your desktop or laptop computer, whether you’re listening to pop music or listening to classical or jazz, music fans can find what they love in music. And pop fans, no matter what age, can find plenty of pop music to listen to, too.
No one would argue that pop music is the dominant form of music throughout the world. With everyone from One Direction to Justin Bieber to Drake holding the top spot in Billboard Magazine’s Top 100 Singles Chart, there’s no denying that pop music is the most influential and popular music genre around.
Young people aren’t the only ones obsessed with the latest hits. Pop music is the #1 music genre in the world, according to Billboard’s year-end 2018 report. The annual report analyzes the genre’s top artists, songs, albums, and more, and this year was no exception. As expected, Drake dominated the Top Artist rankings, followed by Post Malone and Cardi B.
Pop music is the Number One music genre in the world. While electronic music consistently ranks in the top five, pop consistently ranks in the number one spot. Pop music isn’t a new concept, but its popularity has skyrocketed over the years. Coke commercials were built around pop music in the 50s, and in the 60s and 70s, pop musicians were an integral part of Hollywood’s film soundtracks. In the 80s, pop songs dominated the charts, and MTV brought pop to the masses.
Pop music is more than just music designed to appeal to the radio. The pop music genre has branched into many subgenres over the years, each with its own unique sound and popularity. Pop music has become such a large part of American culture, that it’s become a worldwide phenomenon, with fans across the globe.