THE CHANGING FACES OF TOP OF THE POPS – SUPERCURRICULAR READING
Top of the Pops introduced the UK to pop icons such as David Bowie, Oasis and The Stone Roses in the evolving industry of pop music. It was made by the BBC, broadcasting weekly between 1964-2006. The show from its beginning was considered important as it broadcasted the upcoming pop artists, having the ‘power to make or break a performer’. The show in the 70s had figures of 15 million viewers, showing the importance Top Of the Pops had on the music industry in the UK. With the fall in demand of CDs and the implementation of 24-hour music channels, the show tried to keep up with this change in the music industry and technology evolvement by changing their schedule. At this point in the early 2000s, the show was now rarely gaining 3 million viewers a week. Music fans argued that due to digital TV, it was easier to locate their favourite hits through music channels, which boomed in the late 90s. ‘With more than half the country receiving digital TV, it is easy to switch on to the latest hits at any time’ with 24-hour channels being broadcasted. It taught me the lasting impacts of the Top of the Pops with some of my favourite brit pop artists, and how during their prime, this show was considered so important to curate an artists branding. It also showed me the lasting impacts of the decreased demand for physical media, which also came with the decreased excitement to wait for your favourite band to play on these broadcasted channels. Still, Top of the Pops’ importance will still be engrained in the changing of the pop genre, as the show had some of the best live performances from Madonna, the proclaimed Queen of Pop.
