Is pop music a mass produced commodity or a genuine art form?

The dictionary defines art as "the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance."

Using this as a basis, it is arguable that popular music is art, but only in some instances. There are certain mercenary aspects, the X Factor, for example, in its yearly creation of generic pop. However, raw talent and inspiration can still be found.

Though artists may still use their art to make money, their music is (as Bernard Gendron claims) the text, the universal and the copies they has no effect on the art which was originally created.

Taking the part of the definition which claimed art has "more than ordinary significance," this is essential to the nature of pop music, no-one could argue that people like Elvis and The Beatles were not significant in the development of culture in modern society.