There have been many conflicting definitions of what defines pop. Many people confuse "pop" music with "popular". Sometimes being a pop artist is almost synonymous with being popular. However there have been many non-pop acts that fall within the realm of popular music.

The standard format of pop music is the song, customarily less than five minutes in duration, with instrumentation that can range from an orchestra to a lone singer. Pop songs are generally marked by a consistent and noticeable rhythmic element, a mainstream style and traditional structure. Common variants are the verse-chorus form and the thirty-two-bar form. and a chorus that contrasts melodically, rhythmically and harmonically with the verse. Lyrics in pop music are frequently about love, relationships, and life experiences. The primary objectives of the pop music genre are audience enjoyment and commercial success. This of course does not imply that those goals are achieved by every song in this genre.

Pop music is for the most part inoffensive and inalienable. For the most part, pop is known as being clean and overproduced with emphasis on studio production. Catchy hooks and melodies are a common part of pop music. Pop music heavily relies on ready-for-radio singles and radio play to push album sales.

Some of the most recognizable names in pop are Justin Bieber, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, John Mayer, and Michael Jackson.