Theodor Adorno believes that all pop music is standardized. According to him pop music is churned out repeatedly with no difference and people will buy it over and over again. Everytime a new single comes out under the pop genre it is virtually the same as the previous pop single, according to Adorno. He believes that pop music is 'easy' to listen to, we 'digest it' easily unlike particular classical pieces of music which needs our direct focus and attention to understand the piece of music.
Adorno says, 'The term plugging originally had the narrow meaning of ceaseless repetition of one particular hit in order to make it successful.' So if we here a piece of music enough, we end up liking it. Pop music is churned out repeatedly therefore we must like it according to Adorno. Pop music is highly promoted 'plugging' with singles being on the radio and tv day in day out, this is without a doubt mass culture. Pop music uses continually similar rhythms and beats which society like to hear, it isnt diverse or different in any way.
Adorno doesnt think theres any originality in pop music, he thinks people are lazy, they watch tv and listen to music to relax, it takes no effort and doesnt push us intellectually. I personally dont see why this is a bad thing. Adorno is basically addressing mass culture, churned out culture which is just the same as previous, its the same dull thing which doesnt push us intellectually but so what? People work everyday the last thing people want to do when they go home is struggle to understand music or their tv. Music and television is a comfort, sitting down in front of the tv shouldnt be a chore. The fact that programs such as big brother, x factor etc have been showing for so many years must be because society wants to watch it so whats wrong with that? Once people get tired of watching certain programs the viewings of that program drop and its thrown away. If people enjoy something why shouldnt more of that thing be produced.
