Observations of the Evolution of Mainstream Music
I see and read the debates ad nauseam about the current state of current pop music, and at times I wonder why I bother to follow these discussions. It seems to be older people who chime in and complain that modern pop music is junk. That it lacks creativity and musicianship. There’s also a lament that musicianship has been replaced with technology. To be honest, while I agree with some of criticisms, these issues are nothing new. In fact, it’s been going on to varying degrees for decades now. What comes next is my perspective of the trajectory of mainstream music through the second half of the 20th century based off my own experience and knowledge as a music fan.
Rise of the Current Pop Scene
It would seem the idea of pop music making a mainstream cultural impact could be traced to a blue-eyed man with a baritone voice who could sway his hips unlike any other.
Elvis Presley’s music took elements of blues, soul, gospel and country, mixed it all together, and birthed rock and roll in the 1950s. Of course, he wasn’t the only forefather or rock. Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Ritchie Valens among others partook in this new, exciting and fresh style of music, but Elvis stood taller than them all. Not only did he bring talent as a singer and stage presence, he brought the sex appeal. Rock became a haven for both males and females.
While this would be a good starting point, I would be remiss to not put in for consideration a member of the Rat Pack who crooned with the best of them — Frank Sinatra. I sometimes feel the Rat Pack period gets overlooked by who and what came after them, and that could be in part due to just how innovative rock and roll was.
The Fab Four
The next evolution came in the early 60s from a band consisting of four lads from Liverpool, England who’d spend the decade evolving themselves. They took what was going on in the United States, added some harmonies, talented songwriting, great musicianship and production and exported it to the States.
The Beatles not only expanded upon the rock and roll from the 50s, they added their own unique twist to it. There’s a reason why after all these decades they hold an almost sacred place in music. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to claim they are the fathers of modern pop music.
Diversification of the 1960s
In addition to the Beatles, as the decade played on, other styles of music grew more into public consciousness. Yes, there was still the swinging bop rock music from the prior decade, but the Motown label rose to prominence. The Motown label consisted of fantastic singers with a legendary, yet unheralded backing band, the Funk Brothers.
Rock music would continue to develop. More British exports would bring their own styles to the U.S. The Rolling Stones with their blues influenced rock. The Who brought over their mod style sound. Cream provided psychedelic blues, and who can overlook Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin was another band influenced by the blues, but added elements of British folk and thundering power to their music.
It seemed by the end of the 60s there was a style of music to cater to nearly everyone.
Fearless Industry of the 1970s
It’s difficult to not consider the 1970s as the peak decade of mainstream music. It seemed that decade labels and radio were willing to take risks with artists they’d sign. That decade rock continued to evolve. Progressive music by bands such as Yes, Genesis and Pink Floyd left their marks. Arena Rock became a thing, as bands began to sell out arenas.
R&B branched out as well. Funk really began to take a foothold, and often mixed with soul. Disco could be considered birthed out of funk, and while it had been around for a few years prior, the hit movie Saturday Night Fever took the genre to new heights.
The 1970s was probably the peak of mainstream music diversity before the 80s came, and profits became more of a priority than creativity…
The Slide Begins
The 1980s was a very interesting time for mainstream pop music. As the decade began, you could find disco, country, adult contemporary, rock, soul music on the charts. Name a mainstream genre, and there’s a good chance you’ll hear it. As the saying goes, the previous decade usually carries over into the next one. The late 70s into the very early 80s was no exception.
On August 1, 1981, an event would change the direction of mainstream music. Music was no longer an auditory experience. It was a visual one as well, with ramifications to mainstream pop music. MTV was launched, and things would never be the same again. The diverse countdowns would quickly become somewhat more homogenous.
The 1980s still had diversity in the music, especially early in the decade. There was the rise of new wave, a genre of music born out of the post-punk movement. Within new wave there were subgenres such as new romantic led by artists such as ABC and Bryan Ferry. There was also synth pop by groups such as New Order and Depeche Mode, who laid the foundation for the dominant synth sound of the 80s. Rock and R&B still had a place and was solid that decade, rap / hip-hop entered the public sphere, and disco never did die. It just evolved to Madonna, Michael Jackson, and even Duran Duran.
The latter part of the decade what was heard on pop music began to sound the same. Yes, different genres can be heard on the radio and on countdowns, but it seemed the music became more by-the-numbers, and lyrics were less meaningful.
A Trend Continues — the 1990s
The 1990s continued the homogenization of the prior decade. Yes, Nirvana and grunge broke through, but that was short-lived. Soon record labels were itching to sign any band that sounded remotely Seattle and lump them into the genre which was more diverse than how it appears on the surface. Unfortunately, the grunge pool became too diluted, and some could say the genre died with Kurt Cobain’s suicide in 1994.
Rap and hip-hop quickly rose to prominence during the early 1990s, and it could be argued that became the dominant genre of mainstream music that decade, overtaking pop/rock. It’s easy to listen to why. Despite the injection the grunge scene game rock, young people were looking for something different. Perhaps they were tired of guitar-based music. Perhaps some of the meaningful lyrics coming from the experiences of those who lived difficult inner-city lives struck a chord with suburban white kids.
The 1990s also saw passaged of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which ruined radio as we once knew it. Soon conglomerates such as Clear Channel began purchasing local radio stations. The result was devastating for radio. It killed local radio, and stations were run by playlists with music deemed to sell. Risks were a thing of the past. The more a genre or song sold, the more of that style of music the radio would play.
The 1990s was both a last gasp for mainstream pop music, and paved the way for how music would transition to the 21st century. It became about money for the labels who kept consolidating, and corporate radio. The effects of this trajectory became evident during the 21st century.
Today and Conclusion
In a way, streaming, despite criticisms that can be held against it, can allow listeners to discover new artists and genres. Radio has been dead for a long time. Sure, it exists, but it’s nothing like it once was. For me, this gives me hope that there are budding musicians who become influenced by what they listen, and can translate that to creating.
As for the mainstream pop music of today, it has a place, but to those who criticize, it’s not necessarily meant for the ears of older people (myself included). Pop music has always been the sound of youth, and if the kids these days enjoy what they hear, that’s what matters. They’ll age out of it, and probably criticize what comes down the pike in a decade themselves. The cycle will continue.
