What’s next for pop music? Will the charts be dominated by the antics of Lady Gaga, or the smooth R&B of Beyoncé, Brandy or Rihanna or the strong vocals of Madonna and Pink? What about the alternative rock sounds of R.E.M., Nirvana, Pearl Jam or the indie music explosion with Fleet Foxes, the Fray or Radiohead?

The answer is that pop music will be all of the above and continue to be such an intriguing genre and intricate part of the music industry and society as a whole.