Because the United States is such a young country in terms of culture, W.L. Hubbard, editor of "The American History and Encyclopedia of Music," said there is no true folk music in America. In its place, popular music sold to consumers became an important facet of American culture.
In their book "American Popular Music: From Minstrelsy to MP3," Larry Starr and Christopher Waterman address the overall influence of African-American music on popular culture. Early black musicians merged African and European music styles in a variety of social centers, such as the church.
According to the University of Virginia, the influence of live music in America helped establish the popularity of social dancing. By the time of World War II, dance clubs were one of the most popular pastimes.
The role of music in the 1960s and 1970s grew from simple songwriting to a more socially conscious platform. Politics and ideology became a staple of music from this era, influencing changes in popular culture.
According to Ralph Ellison's essay "Change the Joke and Slip the Yoke," African-American music, especially hip-hop and rap, allows other American cultures to explore the black experience.