While the pop acts appeal to wide audiences, they still choose to target selected segments of the population that they think will bring them more profit (i.e. more album/ticket sales). Being an artist is like being a company and like the companies, the artists have their own niche(s). These segments differ by age, sex, sexual orientation, race, country, status, psychological traits etc. So the artists use the marketing tools to appeal to these segments.

For example Pink's primary target markets are: Gay and Lesbian community; Women in their 30s; Whole country of Australia; this era she kinda targets the people who struggle with self-esteem (); teens who feel like they are not popular/outsiders. I also think that out of current pop stars, she is the only one who marginally appeals to older audiences, especially after her grammy performance.

So what segments do your fave artists target? and who is their biggest competition in that segment (For example: in the segment of sexual minorities and outsider teen segment, P!nk and GaGa are the big competitors IMO).

Great Thread Idea You always have the most creative ideas for threads

Lady Gaga:
Gay Community
Younger Liberal Demographic
Teenagers

Drake/B.o.B:
Younger Male Demographic
Teenagers

Ke$ha/Rihanna:
Teenagers
Party/Club Attenders

Bruno Mars:
Younger Male Demographic

Madonna: WW & gays. She has had enormous sales in every market.

This is a neat idea for a thread.

Gaga:
Gay/Outsider community demographic

Ke$ha:
Teenage partier demographic although this era she seems to be making a grab for the gay/outsider teen demographic a bit.

Kylie:
European/UK territories
Gay Community demographic

I'll do it for Britney

- gay males (I don't think she's very appealing for lesbians though)
- preppy teens
- white trailer trash
- Party lovers

Did I lie?

Beyonce:

- black community (in the US and especially in the UK)
- females aged 20 to 30
- gays (less so than in case for GaGa and P!nk though)
- Urban population

Keep also in mind that her target audience is mainly composed of teens and tweens.

She's appealing to anyone who is a fan of unforgettable and quality pop music.

I'm not sure white trailer trash would listen to something as safe as Britney.
I mean I don't know I' m not from the US but I see them more listening to rock/metal/aternative stuff.
You forgot females (12 to 26) for Britney's fanbase, they grew up idolizing her and they will always be here for her. She's a part of their life. Like a family member.

Duca, you are slowly turning into my favorite poster. Your sense of humor is so original

The critics have spilled the tea when they said that she defined pop music of the late nineties and the whole last decade, saying she's been making some of the best pop music the world has ever heard. Deal.

And you know you're one of my favorite posters too.

A fan of talent who dislikes Britney. Contradictory much?

those critics have a good sense of humor just like you.

and I don't dislike Britney. But quality and Britney's music is an oxymoron. Same applies to most of the other pop stars (and most of P!nk's singles too). No need to be delusional about that.

Yes pop music is generally considered as a subpar genre BUT

BOMT, Toxic, Piece Of Me and Womanizer were all reviewed as quality mainstream pop music.
Another sign of that is all the acoustic/rock covers spawned by those songs which permitted to a lot of snotty people to jam to these songs without being ashamed of it.

The same goes for Just Like A Pill or Family Portrait, for example (maybe even more because of the lyrical content).

You make a good point.

Its just too difficult to agree on definition of "quality" in this case. Critics are just as confused as us and many of them are simply unqualified to make any judgment about the songs. With the same success, Duca can review Britney's singles and it will be passed as a legitimate review.

My definition of the quality music is (even if it is mainstream): it is a creative piece of work, similar to which was not done by somebody else before; it sets a certain trend; spawned at least a marginally intellectual debate because of the lyrics, or touched a certain group of people deeply; is melodic.

Out of Britney's singles, Baby One More Time and maybe Toxic, but to a much less extent, satisfy these aspects I listed, but still not completely.

Out of P!nk's singles more of them do, but still there are many which do not. For my definition, Just Like a Pill, Family Portrait, Stupid Girls, Dear Mr. President and couple of others really fit. Again there are many which are completely off though.

and I realize that somebody else's definition of quality might be different.

Yes, I see your point.
I don't know maybe we will have to wait like 5 or 10 years to see which songs have "survived" and are still representative of a certain phase in pop music and pop culture.
I would add that they'd also have to be good pop songs even though not everybody have the same definition for that as you said it earlier.
IMO when persons that don't listen to pop music tell you that they like a certain pop song, it can be a definite sign.

I remembered when Toxic came out in 2004 I had my brother (who only listen to rap/rock) who told to listen to the new Britney song because it was really good.
And in 2008, when Piece Of Me was lauded by many publications (including a very credible french rock magazine) for its experimental production and tongue in cheek lyrics.
They'd never expect this from Britney.

It has to be unexpected too, I think.

Tell them

And Kisuke Beyonce is appealing to Black trailer trash so don't laugh about it

if you wanted to make a comeback you would have said to the ghetto community ,
but then again comebacks have never been your strongest point now have they

Ummmmm no.

This will turn into a mess

ATRL has had such a profound positive influence on Kisuke's grammar. But I miss the old wonderful mess

Well you know it