In general, they are popular because people follow their friends. Most people do what they are supposed to do. They are popular for the same reason my sister likes Fenix TX and New Found Glory...she didn't like them until she found out that people like her are supposed to like it. It just so happens that the majority of teenagers are supposed to like boybands. That's just the way all music is. Personally, I'm not like that. I like what I like. Yes, I like pop music. But there will be pop songs that I can't stand. On that same note, I will like rock songs too. I do think that many pop artists are much more talented than they are given credit for by critics, but that has nothing to do with why they are popular.