At the end of every week, I open up Spotify, plug the aux. cord into my laptop, and begin to navigate through the crowded waters of ‘New Music Friday’. Most weeks yield a handful of good new albums, singles, or remixes - at least enough to tide me over until next Friday.

I listen to a wide variety of music - everything from 90’s R&B, to 60’s Rock, Folk ballads, and today’s undeniable Pop tunes. I’m a fan of deep cuts from little-known indie bands as much as I am a fan of the next great stadium-sized rock ballad. The only genres I don’t touch are anything Metal and anything Country. But generally, if it sounds good I’ll listen to it.

Now we all know that one person who believes that all music today is terrible, and the only way to appreciate “real” music to listen to either classical music, or to listen to bands so obscure and unknown that you practically have to hunt them down online in order to hear a song or two. The people who say all pop music is for the ‘unintelligent masses’. The ones who scoff at the thought of Adele or Bruno Mars on the Top 100 charts for yet another week in a row.

I’m speaking strictly from a non-musically-minded perspective, but I do understand when people say that a lot of today’s music is comprised simply of recycled and regurgitated sounds. I certainly don’t like everyone that dominates the radio, because I have my limits, too. For example, I will not listen to anything that has Pitbull’s or Flo-Rida’s name on it, The Weeknd is not the artist today that he was before he got famous, and don’t even get me started on Tove Lo.

I can acknowledge the fact that, yes, there are a ton of artists today who have no actual talent other than their possession of beat-making software and a foot-in-the-door.

But what’s so wrong with liking Pop music? Why is it a problem to turn up the volume when your favorite Justin Timberlake song comes on the radio as much as you would if Radiohead was playing? If something sounds good to your ear, why should it be criticized and ridiculed for the sake of it being called ‘Popular music’?

I love The Chainsmokers, really enjoyed Taylor Swift’s 1989 album, and am always listening to Ed Sheeran. But I also listen to The Beatles, Kendrick, Coldplay, Father John Misty, and so many more.

Popular music is called that because it is popular, not necessarily bad. Today’s Pop will be remembered as the music of our time; it will be looked back upon as a part of our culture, who we are, and where we are as a society. Its not always a good representation, but tomorrow these tunes will be seen as classics.

Rather than working so hard for everyone to know you hate pop music *appreciate* your music instead of just enjoying it, maybe you should take the time to just sit back and listen to the sounds on the radio. Its not all good, and everyone is welcome to have there own taste.

But hating something just because its popular is just as bad as liking something just because its popular. Following a mindset just for the sake of being a part of that mindset. Trying so hard to stand out just makes you fit in more. Being a little hypocritical, don't you think?