Marxist theorist Theodor Adorno discusses the concept of popular music as “mass produced, inferior commodity”. He also discusses the role of “standardisation” within popular music, through “part interchangeability” and “pseudo individuality”. A good example of this would be the way in which TV programmes like 'The X Factor' “churn” out music, which in many cases is often something which has previously been released within a relatively short timeframe. The music in some cases sounds almost no different to the original material.
One way in which popular music cannot be considered mass produced is through its consumption, unlike other 'commodities' we don't consume popular music in quite the same way, we don't buy the same track repeatedly but we do buy similar music or material by similar artists.
It is difficult to state whether it is one or the other but sometimes it does sway towards Adorno's argument.
This is reasonably good summary of some of the main points of the discussion.
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