Favourite Music

Which Type of Music do Children Like Most?

Our latest survey asked children which style of music was their favourite. You can see how they voted in the chart to the right. As you can see, Pop came first with over a third of children naming it as their favourite genre – unsurprising that it was the most popular: “pop” is short for “popular” after all.

Second favourite was Hip Hop with a quarter of the vote. Then came Rock with 16%, Classical on 11%, Country with 5%, Blues and Reggae both on 3%, Opera with 2% and finally Folk on a mere 1%.

The History of Pop Music

There has always been some form of popular music, from the songs people would sing as they worked the fields in the middle ages, to the music hall numbers performed by artists who entertained the masses in Victorian times. But Pop music really got started when the gramophone was invented. This allowed mass production of music which people from all over the globe could listen to, making certain acts popular worldwide.

The First Pop Stars

What we now consider “Pop Stars” first hit the scene in the 1930s. “Crooners” such as Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra sold records by the million and performed before crowds of adoring fans. The presence of Americans in Britain during World War II brought popular American music to or shores with acts like Glen Miller and Benny Goodman who performed with their bands which were more like orchestras.

Pop music really came into its own in 1952 when the very first pop charts were published. Soon after Rock ‘n’ Roll emerged and the industry really took off. Acts like Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly set the trend for superstars. A trend which continued in the 1960s with the phenomenon that was The Beatles. Throughout the 1960s they dominated the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Post Beatles

After the 60s pop music sprouted many offshoots. From Glam Rock to Disco, and Punk to modern folk. And there was a new generation of pop superstars in the 80s, with artist like Madonna, Michael Jackson and Prince taking up the baton. There was also a surge in manufactured bands, and the legendary producers Stoc, Aitken and Waterman who spawned such acts as Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan.

The 90s magnified this ne taste for manufactured types of music and boybands and girlgroups became all the rage. Take That, Boyzone and the Spice Girls all sold may, many records. As an alternative, Britpop also appeared in the 90s with its own stars. Oasis, Blur and Pulp are just a few of the huge indie bands who enjoyed success at that time.

The 21st Century

Pop megastars seem to have had their day. Unlike previous periods no new forms of music have appeared and become sensations. Instead modern Rhythm and Blues, a blend of Soul and Hip hop has come to dominate the charts. And while there are a few modern pop stars, such as Adele, none can claim to have reached the dizzy heights of pop stardom that the Beatles first achieved fifty years before.

More Survey Results