In the 1960s, 1970s, a pop music critic, if they worked really hard, and kept their ear to the ground, might, just might, hear about everything. Easy? No. But achievable.
In 2012, despite the ease of distribution, it really can't be done. Pop music is so wide, it is very difficult to get your brain around.
I figure I listened to about 1000 or so albums last year. I'm not saying I had a working knowledge of all of them -I would say I have a working knowledge of about half that number., but enough to feel comfortable that I have a clear idea of their sound and whether I like them.
On top of that, I would add another 500 songs where I've heard or so.
And then an additional 250 sets from various artists.
And I still don't feel comfortable with the modern pop scene: I don't feel that back bone knowledge that will set me free.
I decided to rethink it. To start at ground zero.
The first thing I notice was, all those different names, all those Deli catgeories weren't helping me.
So I stripped them away and decided their was only two types of pop music: Mainstream and alternative. Look at it this way, Calvin Harris is mainstream, Skrillex is alternative. Nickelback are mainstream, Fucked Up are alternative.
So anyway, I cut it into two.
And from those two, I divide further and then I look at my favorites and most popular.
So alternative dance becomes, Trouble & Bass, DFA Records, mainstream dance nbecomes David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia. If you have a handle on those two record companies and those two acts, you can work your way throughmodern dance. You can have idea as to what is happenning.
Look at hip hop: Odd future for alternative, Kanye for mainstream. Is it enough? It is enough to for a feel as to what is going on. Freddie Gibbs is great but you don't have to hear Freddie Gibbs to get a handle on hip hop.
So, if you are looking to understand modern pop in 2012 start there. Break into into two and subdivide into major forms of sound:
Rock (to include Metal, hardcore, punk, everything)
Pop (to include hip hop, dance, tech country -everything else)
Or you can just read rock nyc, of course.