What is popular music?

[lostinidlewonder]

I know the musical periods music like Baroque, Classical, Romantic etc etc. However what is the most popular music of all periods?

I would have to say that live performances of orchestras or groups of professional musicians have always been difficult to access no matter which period we live in (although nowadays it is more accessible). If it wasn't for recordings I know 100% of us would have much less listening experience.

If in the "olden days" people had no access to recordings, the music they most would have listened to is folk songs and simply sung music that circulated through social groups wouldn't it? An instrument that is common in all communities no matter how rich or poor is the voice. Is this the reason why vocal music nowadays is still so popular? Because lyrics can express issues important to the mainstream society does that always elevate vocal music to be the most popular form of music?

Sure we have instruments backing the voice of popular music these days and the musical concepts draw from past musical periods. But it seems that throughout history it has been vocal music that has always been the most popular. What is everyones opinion on the concept of popular music? Has it always been the voice?

It seems that words have more emotional pull to the listener than the melody somtimes (although both have to work together). Since intrumental music can never actually pronouce words does this doom it to always be less popular than vocal music?

When instrumental music is used in combination with other media, such as movies for instance, this somehow elevates the popularity of the music. Music from John T Williams is so very well known because of the success of the movies he composed for (E.T, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, Superman, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones etc). Williams does not intend to forge new grounds with his composition, his melody writing just stands for itself!