Thats how I always looked at Pop Music...Its alot of Pop artist that not only extremely musically gifted and talented, but just like already stated have the technical ability also (knows how to read, understands music theory..ect).

But alot of these artist know and understand how to make art digestible for a wide audience. Alot of people overlook that skill.

Not EVERY artist in Pop are 'got lucky-sellout-no-talent-hacks", there are some, but they usually fizzle out in the end.