Of Gambaccini being wheeled out to make comments every time that pop music is discussed in the media.

you can bet the farm that he'll be there with his dulcet, soothing tones giving a potted history of their entire career in 500 words or less.

He really knows his music, and he really cares.

I could listen to him all day. He's not everyone's cup of tea though.

translates as: "I don't like urban music."

I would agree with the undefined as there are so many competing genres that could loosely fall under the popular music umbrella. A lot of that music is as good, if not better, than it's ever been so weak is not an adjective that I would use. Paul Gambacini often comes across to me as a bit of a dick because he presents things that are clearly opinions as facts. I often wonder if he actually believes what he's saying.

In a nutshell, top 40 is dead. Just safe regurgitation of the same old (R&B)stuff to a dwindling audience. However, pop music is alive and well but living outside of the top 40 and therefore invisible to the types of people who wheel Gambo out for a quote.

I think Gambaccini has a great knowledge of music as it relates to the top 40 but I have no idea whether he is familiar with what is happening today outside of that. I'm not sure if anyone is measuring it. You'd really have to measure and report a pirate downloads chart :-)

I was chatting with my friend's daughter last week, she is 15 and reeled of her latest playlist to me. A combination of the old - Led Zep, Hendrix - and the new - a bunch of bands that were hot amongst her peer group but I had never heard of. None of it was top 40.

a combination of not working in a record shop anymore and TOTP leaving our screens, my knowledge of current pop music is limited to say the least.
As far as i'm aware urban & r and b seems to be dominating the charts, with rock music getting little or no look in? From the chart hits i've heard over the years Beyonce, Take That etc, there has been some fantastic pop music released.
With regards to 'popular music' that wouldn't be classed as out and out pop, then I reckon we are in a golden period, there has been some wonderful music released over the last few years, and some exciting stuff to come. But i've always been of the opinion that there is great music out there if you're willing to look for it.
Paul Gambaccini, he's alright

On a kind of related topic, I actually heard the last hour of the top 40 on R1 last night and for the first time in years I heard the No1 and thought, 'bloody hell, tune!'. A lot of the stuff before it was absolute bilge, but this really got my foot tapping.

I can't remember the last time I listened to the chart show on Radio 1, so I'm not in a position to comment on modern pop music either. All I can say is, that the odd time I've tuned into Radio 1 in the daytime, I've only last about 15 mins before I've found myself reaching for the dial. Mr G seems a decent enough chap.

It seems in rude health. Take That, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, The Saturdays, N-Dubz, Tinchy Stryder, Example...most of it sounds alright to me Daddio.

And tries to present himself as a voice of authority while seeming to make fatuous points that anyone who'd read an issue of Q coukd trot out.

Don't be a Rock singer.

but if it's 'undefined' how can you then define it as 'weak'?

This week's chart isn't too hot admittedly but people aren't back from summer hols so Y Viva Espana and Demis Roussos won't be kicking in for a couple of weeks yet.