Dance-pop, also called club-pop and EDM-pop, is a type of electronic dance music that began in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is usually fast-paced music made for nightclubs and is also played on radio stations that broadcast popular songs. This genre combines elements of dance and pop music, with influences from disco, post-disco, and synth-pop. It is often described by strong beats and simple song structures that are more similar to pop music than to more complex dance styles. The music focuses on catchy melodies and easy-to-remember tunes. Most dance-pop songs are created mainly by music producers, although some songs are made by artists themselves.

Dance-pop is very diverse, as it has taken inspiration from many other music styles. These include contemporary R&B, house, trance, techno, electropop, new jack swing, funk, and pop rock.

Dance-pop is a popular style of music, and many artists have performed songs in this genre. Some well-known artists include Cher, Madonna, Britney Spears, Rick Astley, Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguilera, Spice Girls, Paula Abdul, Backstreet Boys, Michael Jackson, NSYNC, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Years & Years, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Ava Max.

History

As the term "disco" became less popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s, new terms were used to describe music that was similar to disco. These included "post-disco," "club," "dance," and "dance-pop." Post-disco music was a modern version of disco. It was more experimental, used electronic sounds, and was created by producers and DJs. It often used tools like sequencers and synthesizers.

Dance-pop music began in the early 1980s. It combined elements of dance and pop music or post-disco. It was fast-paced, simple, and designed for clubs. It was driven by producers and had catchy melodies. Dance-pop was faster than regular pop music but more structured than dance music. It mixed pop's simple structure with dance music's strong beat. Most dance-pop songs were created by record producers, who then hired singers to perform them.

By the early 1980s, disco was not widely accepted in mainstream pop music. According to AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Madonna played a major role in making dance music popular. She used her charm, confidence, and style to promote dance-pop. Erlewine said Madonna "launched dance-pop" and set the standard for the genre for 20 years. On her first album, Madonna was the main songwriter and co-producer, which was unusual for a female dance-pop singer at the time. Vice magazine said her first album "drew the blueprint for future dance-pop."

In the 1980s, dance-pop was linked to other fast-paced electronic genres like Hi-NRG. Producers such as Stock, Aitken, and Waterman created Hi-NRG/dance-pop songs for artists like Kylie Minogue, Dead or Alive, and Bananarama. Dance-pop also borrowed ideas from funk (e.g., Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston), new jack swing (e.g., Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul), and contemporary R&B.

Other important dance-pop artists in the 1980s included the Pet Shop Boys, Mel and Kim, Samantha Fox, Debbie Gibson, and Tiffany.

By the 1990s, dance-pop became a major part of popular music. Artists like the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Backstreet Boys, and 'NSYNC emerged. In the early 1990s, dance-pop borrowed ideas from house music (e.g., Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy," Taylor Dayne's "Soul Dancing," and Madonna's "Vogue," "Rescue Me," and "Deeper and Deeper"), as well as contemporary R&B and new jack swing (e.g., Shanice's "I Love Your Smile").

By the late 1990s, electronic influences became more common in dance-pop. Madonna's 1998 album Ray of Light included techno, trance, and other electronic styles, bringing electronica into mainstream dance-pop. In 1998, Cher released the dance-pop song "Believe," which used a technology called Auto-Tune. Auto-Tune is a tool that corrects pitch and creates special effects. Since the late 1990s, Auto-Tune became a common feature in dance-pop.

Celine Dion released the midtempo dance-pop song "That's the Way It Is" by the end of 1999. During this time, some British bands connected to Britpop and alternative pop experimented with dance-pop. Examples include Catatonia's "Karaoke Queen," Bis's "Eurodisco," Kenickie's "Stay in the Sun," and Romo's "Just For A Second." Theaudience, led by Sophie Ellis Bextor, also explored dance-pop.

At the start of the 2000s, dance-pop remained popular and was highly electronic, influenced by genres like trance, house, techno, and electro. However, as R&B and hip hop grew in popularity, dance-pop began to borrow from urban music. Artists like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Janet Jackson, and Kylie Minogue continued to succeed. Some dance-pop songs returned to disco roots, such as Kylie Minogue's Light Years (2000) and Fever (2001), which included disco influences. Madonna's Music (2000) also had elements of Euro disco.

By the mid-2000s, dance-pop strongly returned to its disco roots. Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005) borrowed heavily from disco, especially the work of 1970s artists like ABBA, Giorgio Moroder, the Bee Gees, and Donna Summer. Britney Spears' Blackout (2007) also included Euro disco influences.

New dance-pop artists like Rihanna, Kesha, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga emerged in the mid-to-late 2000s. This period saw dance-pop return to its electronic roots, with influences from synthpop and electropop. Lady Gaga is often credited with this shift, especially with songs like "Just Dance" and "Poker Face." Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music" and "Disturbia" included electronic and house music elements. Kesha's "Tik Tok" used a video game-style beat, and Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" (2008), "California Gurls" (2010), and "Firework" (2010) showed electropop and house influences.

In the 2010s, dance-pop continued to use electronic sounds, with a focus on strong, bass-heavy beats. Artists like Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Madonna, Kesha, Christina Aguilera, Usher, and Rihanna remained popular. New artists such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Rita Ora, and Dua Lipa also joined the dance-pop scene.

Some music journalists noted that dance songs about clubbing and staying positive became popular in the early 2010s, possibly as a response to the 2008 financial crisis or the 2012 phenomenon. This trend was called "recession pop."

Taylor Swift's albums Red (2012), 1989 (2014), and Reputation (2017) used a pop-influenced sound, produced by dance-pop experts Max Martin and Shellback. Ariana Grande's 2014 single "Problem" with Iggy Azalea sold 9 million units worldwide.

In the 2020s, dance-pop continued to evolve, with artists blending the genre with diverse musical styles. Dua Lipa's 2020 album Future Nostalgia was praised for combining disco, funk, and electro-pop. Hits like "Don't Start Now" and "Physical" became major successes.

Characteristics

Dance-pop music typically has the following features:

• Fast-paced, lively songs designed for dancing, with a rhythm that is energetic and suitable for nightclub settings
• Easy-to-remember melodies and rhythms that are fun to listen to, following a structure that works well on the radio and appeals to a wide audience
• A focus on strong beats, rhythms, and grooves arranged in a basic musical setup
• Clear and memorable hooks
• Simple and straightforward lyrics
• Well-produced sound quality