Characteristics

Pop music can be contrasted with the relatively similar Rock genre in that "Pop is not a do-it-yourself music, but is professionally produced and packaged." Frith 2001, p.95-96)

While Pop and Rock music each appeal to mass culture, often aim for (and achieve) commercial success, feature catchy tunes and melodies, and emphasize rhythm, Rock music has a much more direct connection to the blues and folk from which it originated, while Pop can be thought of as the current incarnation of Popular music , which has existed for centuries.

Pop music is an important component of popular music . Popular music is often distinguished from classical or art music and from folk music but since the term includes artists working in many styles ( rock , hip hop , rhythm and blues (R&B), country , dance and operatic pop ), it is reasonable to say that "pop music" is a flexible category. It may also be referred to as soft rock or pop/rock .