stars get compared to . There are several reasons they these pop mega-stars emerged , the main one being they were genuinely talented artists . Other reasons include a greater public interest in celebrity gossip , fashion and and increased obsession with pop culture . It also was related to the public having an increased disposable income and a want to imitate celebrity affluence . Changes in technology also contributed to the availability of music ( MTV ), better ways to listen ( CDs and cassettes ), and portability of music ( the Walkman and boomboxes ). Lastly , a lot of these superstars ' success can be accounted for through smart marketed by record companies and the artists ' ability to look at themselves as brands .
Old Pop Stars And Their New Solo Careers
One trend in pop music during the decade was the re-emergence of older musicians who had once been popular as a part of a group or duo into their own solo careers . Some examples include Diana Ross , Cher , Lionel Richie , Tina Turner and Paul McCartney . These artists had already experienced success during the 1960s and 1970s and a few of them had even tried becoming actors during that time . They also came into successful solo careers after adapting to the new musical landscape . Cher , Tina Turner and Diana Ross all updated their looks to keep up with fashion , Lionel Richie made memorable music videos and adapted his soulful sound into the new style of pop music and Paul McCartney collaborated with other successful musicians to keep himself relevant . Part of the reason these artists were successful had to do with the fact that the Baby Boom generation was coming into adulthood and had an influx of disposable income to spend on the records of artists they had grown up listening to . They brought a sense of nostalgia for the good old days of music and yet their songs and styles were updated , combining the best of both worlds .
One Hit Wonders
The eighties was the decade of one hit wonders , where an artist would achieve massive success with one or two extremely popular songs and then seemingly fade away , never able to re-create their success . Part of this had to do with the expansion of the music industry , facilitated by MTV and technology . Record