Pop Music Artists & Styles
By Bill Lamb, About.com Guide to Top 40 / Pop
Learn the basics of pop music today including the wide range of contemporary pop music styles and key artists that perform them. You'll find artist profiles, quizzes, discographies, tour schedules, and much more.
- Michael Jackson
- Top 40 and Pop Music 101
- Pop Concert Tours
- Mainstream Pop
- Alternative Pop
- American Idol Stars
Michael Jackson
One of the top pop artist of all time, Michael Jackson died unexpectedly June 25, 2009.
- Michael Jackson Profile
- Top 10 Michael Jackson Songs
- Michael Jackson Album Discography
- Michael Jackson in Pictures
Top 40 and Pop Music 101
The basics on pop music before diving into specific genres and artists.
- Major Pop Record Labels - The Big 4
- Independent Pop Record Labels - The Top 10
- Top 10 US Pop Radio Stations
Pop Concert Tours
Seeing your favorite pop star in concert can be an unforgettable experience. Check out details on current hot concert tours.
- American Idols Live
- Beyonce's I Am... Concert Tour
- Coldplay Viva La Vida Concert Tour
- Jonas Brothers Concert Tour
- Kings of Leon Concert Tour
- No Doubt and Paramore Concert Tour
- Paolo Nutini US Concert Tour
- Britney Spears Circus Concert Tour
- The Veronicas US Concert Tour
Mainstream Pop
The mainstream in pop music is constantly changing, but when the average music fan thinks of pop music, these are some of the top artists that come to mind.
- Christina Aguilera
- Beyonce
- Black Eyed Peas
- Mariah Carey
- Kelly Clarkson
- Fergie
- Nelly Furtado
- Green Day
- Josh Groban
- Janet Jackson
- Avril Lavigne
- Madonna
- Maroon 5
- Nickelback
- Pink
- Rihanna
- Jordin Sparks
- Britney Spears
- Gwen Stefani
- Elliott Yamin
Alternative Pop
Alternative is often used to describe music from the underground or released on independent record labels. It was also heavily influenced by the do-it-yourself attitude of the late 70's punk revolution.
American Idol Stars
Since the show's debut in 2002, American Idol has significantly impacted the pop music landscape in the US. A number of winners and contestants on the show have become major pop stars.
Boy Bands
By definition a boy band is an all male vocal group that does not play instruments on their songs. Typically their music is glossy mainstream pop oriented to a young female audience.
British Pop
The United Kingdom and Ireland are home to some of the top pop artists on the planet. British Pop often has a slightly different feel and approach to its American counterpart.
- Lily Allen
- Arctic Monkeys
- Richard Ashcroft
- Natasha Bedingfield
- James Blunt
- Coldplay
- Depeche Mode
- Girls Aloud
- Klaxons
- Annie Lennox
- Manic Street Preachers
- McFly
- Katie Melua
- Mika
- James Morrison
- Oasis
- Corinne Bailey Rae
- Snow Patrol
- Spice Girls
- Amy Winehouse
Girl Groups
Girl groups first hit their stride in the early 60's, but a new wave of all-female vocal groups has struck again.
Punk Pop
The roots are in the late 70's punk revolution, but this time around the music with a punk edge is commercially successful and highly melodic.
- AFI
- All-American Rejects
- Fall Out Boy
- From First to Last
- Good Charlotte
- Green Day
- Hawthorne Heights
- My Chemical Romance
Singer-Songwriter Pop
There is currently a rebirth in the popularity of solo singer-songwriters on the pop charts. The first major wave of singer-songwriters was spearheaded by artists like Carole King and James Taylor in the early 1970's. Today's top singer-songwriters perform pop that ranges from soulful, bluesy songs to sunnier, laidback tunes most often accompanied by either guitar or piano.
Artist Quizzes
Test your knowledge of your favorite artists with these quick quizzes.
