Why are "artists" like Katy Perry and Justin Bieber so popular? Sure, the easy answer would be because no one likes to think anymore, and they don't make you think. But the have no talent. They don't write their own songs - at least, Justin Bieber doesn't. There is no raw talent, just billions of dollars in advertising shoved down our throats.
I know Katy Perry and Bieber songs by heart, and I don't know where I learned them, or how. But I also know Brand New, Chevelle, A Perfect Circle and CocoRosie songs by heart... because they speak to my heart. They're real artists, and yet not a single Katy or Justin fan cares or knows about any of these bands.
I'm beginning to think that popular music caters entirely to unintelligent people, and all the other stuff is only appealing to people who think. I am, by no means, a hipster or an intellectual, but if I can recognize the difference in talent between Jesse Lacey of Brand New and Waka Flocka Flame, then I'm pretty sure everyone else should be able to as well.
Right now, "Baby" by Justin Bieber has 731,777,993 views on YouTube. Tool's most popular songs, Schism and Sober, have 18,021,523 and 13,483,527 views, respectively. Even added up, that pales in comparison to Bieber's 3 minute, 45 second song "Baby." And I can't figure out why for the life of me.

I hate you, America.

Awww. I beg to disagree. We(all human being) are all have RAW talents that reside within us. Some stays there until an individual died undiscovered without knowing he has great talent, other's honed their various talents at an early stage. Bierbers and others whose music are on the hit chart capture the teens interests ( their songs are lively and light). We are all unique, with unique preferences.

I just don't think that saying one word over and over again, making a whole song out of a chorus, or having teams of other people make those songs for you counts as talent.

Same reason that the mcdouble has outsold all the other food we are all puppets doing what the machine tells us to do they are counting bodies like sheep to the rythem of the war drums

Go back to sleep ;)

I take offense to the statement that Popular music caters to unintelligent people. I am quite intelligent, and have the academic records to prove it. I find popular music to be wonderful, in certain cases. Granted, not all of pop cultures more famous artists write their OWN song lyrics or music, but SOMEONE wrote it. And that shows talent or that persons part. Just because we, as humans, enjoy popular music, does make us unintelligent. I enjoy Chevelle, Pearl Jam, Panic @ the Disco, Bethany Joi Galeoti, Modest Mouse, Muse, and tons of other bands/artists, that are not mainstream or popular. I also enjoy Katy Perry, Gym Class Heroes, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Paramore, and many other mainstream popular artists. I think it boils down to, people enjoy what and who they enjoy, based on personal prefference, not a lack of or a surplus of intelligence.

@DejaEntendu: free from pain,choice,and other poison devils

Whatever music moves me is what i like

I guess I'm too cerebral for my own good.

@DejaEntendu: none too has the power to tell who has talent or haven't when we are all different in perceiving things