Pop music is everywhere—whether you’re blasting it through headphones, dancing in a club, or singing along in your room. Popular music, as the genre that connects people like no other, should reflect our diverse society, but historically, it has been dominated by white, straight artists. So why is it important to expand diversity in pop music, and why should we even care?
Because representation matters
Representation is a cornerstone of diversity in pop music – and in any form of media, for that matter. As a white, straight woman, I don’t need to look for role models because they are everywhere. But as a Slavic, Silesian woman, while mainstream media often centres around the majority groups, I see the need for genuine representation extending beyond race and sexual orientation to cultures, ethnicities and languages other than English. Black artists have made enormous contributions to pop music, but often, they are put in the R&B or hip-hop genre boxes and can’t break into pop mainstream music. When people see themselves reflected in music, it validates their experiences; it’s empowering and creates a space where they feel seen.
“Can a gay girl get an amen?”
Queer voices in pop have become more heard in recent years, but the lack of non-stereotypical queer representation is still very present. Artists like Reneé Rap, Billie Eilish, Chapell Roan or Troye Sivan bring authentic queer experiences to the mainstream, breaking heteronormative norms and celebrating queerness and individuality. Back in September, when Roan won this year’s Best New Artist at the Video Music Awards, she said – “for all the queer kids in the Midwest – if you are watching right now, I see you, I understand you because I’m one of you. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be, bitch .” Such artists and the messages their music brings empower marginalised communities and change the pop music landscape by putting the spotlight on diverse artists.
Not everything needs to be in English
Music has the power to transcend language barriers, and recently, artists singing in languages other than English have found mainstream success. K-pop superstars, and Spanish-speaking Rosalía and Bad Bunny (the most-streamed artist on Spotify for three consecutive years in a row) have shattered those barriers in pop music, proving that even if they don’t understand the lyrics, people can connect to a song’s energy and raw emotions. This wave of cross-cultural music showcases the power of diverse experiences and perspectives, making pop music more vibrant.
Pop music is mainstream – yes, but that doesn’t mean it lacks lyrical or musical depth, creativity or meaning, and that’s why it reaches so many people. Diversity in pop music is so important because it allows everyone to see themselves in a genre that is supposed to be exactly that – a mirror of who we as a society are if we only allow all those diverse parts of ourselves to be seen. The voices of all the mentioned before (and many more) artists break stereotypes and allow those who have been hushed down to freely express their art and make pop music much more interesting.
And just as a reminder – hating pop music doesn’t make you deep.
