FROM ACOUSTICS TO ELECTRONICS: THE EVOLUTION OF VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTATION IN POP MUSIC

Abstract

The aim of the research is to analyze the evolution of vocals and instrumental accompaniment in pop music from the mid-19th century up to the present day, with an emphasis on technological and aesthetic factors that have influenced musical style. The key stages of changes in vocal manner are considered from live emotional delivery to the use of digital effects, such as autotune, harmonizers and vocal synthesizers. The impact of electronic instruments, MIDI technologies, digital audio workstations (DAW) and artificial intelligence algorithms on the process of music production, composition structure and sound aesthetics is analyzed. The research methodology is based on a combination of musicological analysis, historical and cultural review, content analysis of musical texts and media research. A comparative analysis of audio recordings from different periods is used, which allows us to trace changes in the timbre palette, rhythm and harmonic filling. The scientific novelty lies in the systematic understanding of the transformations of vocals and instrumentation in the context of the digital revolution, which covers not only technical aspects, but also profound changes in creative thinking. The conclusions indicate that the development of pop music is the result of the interaction of technical progress, changes in the cultural demands of the audience and the search for new forms of musical expression. Modern pop music demonstrates a tendency towards hybridity, combining acoustic traditions with electronic experiments, which opens up new prospects for creativity. Prospective areas of further research are outlined: the impact of algorithmic music on the emotional perception of listeners, the issue of copyright in the context of AI compositions, the socio-cultural consequences of the democratization of music production through online platforms, as well as a comparative analysis of analog and digital sound. The work contributes to a deeper understanding of the interaction of music, technology, law and society in the digital era, opening up broad opportunities for further interdisciplinary research.