ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the way of conceptualizing and studying popular music, asserting that popular music is much more than its formal and technical aspects, or the notes and lyrics, of "the music itself." Popular music studies takes two very different forms in academia. Within music schools, faculties, and departments, popular music is defined by what it is not, classical music, also called Western art music. Government regulation and policy have an impact upon the music industries and the production, distribution, and consumption of music. Regulation and policy are not the same but sometimes have similar results. Copyright law and policies exemplify that dynamic. For popular music studies, technology means more than just the equipment used to create and record popular music. Popular music scholars study the musical styles and material practices of specific genres. Creativity is central to popular music, and takes many forms, including song and lyric writing, record production, performance, arranging, and directing music videos.
