# What's the difference between R&B and pop?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-r-b-and-pop/722787>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 17, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-r-b-and-pop/722787 "2015-06-17T21:22:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2015, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-difference-between-r-b-and-pop/722787/21 "2015-06-23T03:15:39Z")

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My somewhat cynical, but also somewhat accurate response is that for today’s music, the answer is “none”.

Dance, R&B, hip-hop, rock, EDM and pop have largely merged into a single genre.

“Rock” groups like Maroon 5 put out songs that are highly danceable.

“Pop” singers like Katy Perry, Ke$ha or even Taylor Swift frequently have rappers and hip hop artists as guests on their songs.

EDM acts like David Guetta will have female pop artist as guest vocalists.

And all music has a similar electronic dance beat.

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