ABSTRACT
The short phrases, regular phrase lengths, simple time signatures and mostly stepwise diatonic melodies that characterize pop music result in simple musical ideas that are easily memorized by the listener. The comparison between pop and rock has often been used to suggest that pop music is less worthy of serious consideration. The consistency of musical duration in pop music, as well as the emphasis on a single piece of music rather than a collection, enable and encourage the continuation of this tradition across several formats. Pop music would appear to emphasize familiarity, accessibility, simplicity and repetition – qualities that, from the Western art music perspective, tend to imply a passive and undiscriminating audience. Like much television, pop music – also sometimes known as 'commercial' music – functions within a relatively free market economy. As a market-based, inessential commodity, pop music invites comparison with the fashion industry.
