POP MUSIC

Pop music is the most listened to music in the world. It began around seventy years ago in the 1950s.
Pop music has had three major eras. In the 1950s, musicians like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly,
and Chucky Berry were very popular. Singers used back up singers to harmonize with them
and danced as they sang. The music then had rhythm and blues (R&B) and jazz influences.

In 1964, pop music changed greatly when British bands came.
The Ed Sullivan show was a famous American TV show that often showed music acts. On the 9th of February,
1964, the Beatles played, ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’. 73 million people tuned in to watch them. 
Artists like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin introduced more rock and roll into pop music. 

In 1983, technology changed pop music.
Synthesizers (electronic instruments like keyboards) added new sounds and effects to dance music.
Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince were huge artists at this time.

The last big change in pop music came in 1991 with hip hop.  
Artists like LL Cool J and MC Hammer were some of the first artists to blend hip hop and pop.
Today, pop music has many different sounds thanks to its musical history.