Justice

The New Kings of Pop

words by Ryan Ffrench
photos by Randy Cremean

When Elizabeth Taylor presented Michael Jackson with one of his many “Artist of the Decade” awards in 1989, she bestowed upon him a title that would be forever associated with his name: “The King of Pop”. Those ten years saw Jackson redefine the very notion of popular music, granting it a significance and purpose in western commercial culture that it has yet to relinquish. His image and influence supersaturated the entertainment industry in media as varied as music, film, dance, and fashion, as his legendary persona became an international commodity. The mature “Era of Pop” had arrived. No longer were artists obliged to concern themselves with aesthetic theory and form in their song craft; the primary objective of this school of musicians became the uncompromised entertainment of their audience and the unapologetic pursuit of commercial success.