Contemporary Pop
tagStarted 2005Peak 2012-2024Last big hit still active
Pop made to sound of-the-moment: current production trends, crisp programmed drums, layered synths and a polished lead vocal sitting up front. Choruses are wide and bright, with melodic post-hooks and tight low end. Less about a fixed style than reflecting the present commercial palette, refreshed every few years.
History
Contemporary pop is the umbrella label for whatever pop sounds 'now,' updated continuously as fashions shift. Through the 2010s it tracked the move from electro-leaning Katy Perry and Maroon 5 records toward the cleaner, vocal-centric singles of Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Adele, always defined by the prevailing production of the day rather than a static signature.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Billboard
- AllMusic
- The Guardian music