Do you know under what genre the songs in your playlist belong to? I recently checked mine and was astonished to find out that most songs are of the pop genre. The thing is I’m more of a country music type of person so it was a bit of a surprise to find out that I actually play songs from artists such as Pink, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Robin Thicke, and the like. What does this imply then? I think that in this day and age, we become exposed to different forms of music and it then becomes impossible to avoid diversity. A hip-hop enthusiast may actually enjoy techno music too because these are frequently played together in night clubs and bars. A country music lover, like me, who grew up listening to the same music every day may find alternative rock refreshing. The point is, we should embrace the fact that sooner or later, you will have to give in to the latest trends and most popular styles of music. It is not just a bandwagon phenomenon but it is also an innate desire to experience new things. The best part is that it gives us the liberty to choose among a variety of choices, each with its own musical technique, style, context, target audience, and geographical origin. What then are the most popular music genres that has contributed to this trend?
There was this recent study conducted by the NPD Group, a global information company. They tried to determine a music genre’s popularity by surveying consumers about their favorite music genres, including not only what they actively listened to, but also the music they purchased and the concerts they attended. The results have shown that there was a significant rise in the percentage of country music fans in 2012, as well as a decline in the percentage of classic rock fans. This study shows then that country music is one of the most popular genres.
Another writer claims that Rhythm and Blues is the most popular type. This beautiful music genre appeared in times when American pop music was stuck in a creative crisis. And this genre has dominated the music industry since then. Today the most popular R&B singers are Alicia Keys, Usher, Mary J Blige, and Beyonce.
In another study conducted by Music & Copyright, the aim was to analyze the retail sales of several music genres to see whether the decline in recorded-music sales affected all genres equally. The results of the study show that pop and rock have strengthened their hold on music sales, while rap/hip-hop, the darling of the 1990’s has suffered a decline. This study shows that the genres of pop and rock are still good competitors to country and rhythm and blues.
So these are the top genres that have influenced the music industry today – country, rhythm and blues, pop, and rock. You might have noticed that these genres are actually completely different from each other. It only tells us one thing – that the diversity of the population of consumers itself may have contributed to the varying preferences to music. Is this a good thing? Yes of course! There may be new genres that will surface soon and this is will be another opportunity for us to try a new flavor. Think of it as eating a popular dish that you have never tried before. Exciting isn’t it?
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