Russell Mulcahy (b. 1953), Brian Grant, David Mallet (b. 1942) and Scott Millaney are trailblazing masters in the music video industry.

David Fincher (b. 1962) and Michael Bay (b. 1960's) are likewise music video trailblazers.

Steve Golin (1950's-2010's) and Sigurjon 'Joni' Sighvatsson (b. 1950's) are trailblazers in bringing the MTV style to commercials through both Propaganda Films and Palomar Pictures.

Rebecca Blake (d. 2022) is also a trailbalzer in music videos and commercials.

Recording studios

Abbey Road, Angel Recording Studios, United Western Recorders, Olympic, IBC, Anvil Studios, Cine Tele Sound (CTS) and Cheiron are world-famous and innovative recording studios.

Musicland, Trident, Polar

Les Paul, Bill Putnam and Tom Dowd were recording studio pioneers.

Ross S. Snyder contributed to recording techniques, notably multi-track and early stereo recording, the earlier in collaboration with Les Paul.

Robert Moog's eponymous company created the first commercial synthesizer in the 1960's.

The Minimoog, designed as a more affordable, portable iteration of the Moog synthesizer, is the first synthesizer sold in retail stores.

Endorsed and supported by two of the world-renowned Hollywood stars, Bill Putnam sold his stake in Universal Recording Corporation and moved to Hollywood in 1957.

When he arrived in Hollywood, Bill Putnam acquired a film studio based at 6050 Sunset Boulevard to launch United Recording Corporation in 1957.

In 1961, just 4 years after founding United Recording in 1957, Bill Putnam acquired the neighbouring Western Studios at 6000 Sunset, remodelling and incorporating the building into the complex.

TTG installed one of the first sixteen-track tape recorders.

Prior to TTG, 4-or-8-track recorders were the norm.

Television technology

Dalmo-Victor is a technological empire.

Ampex, which is a spin-off of the Dalmo-Victor company, is known around the world as an iconic and famous technological innovator.

Quadruplex videotape is the first practical and commercially successful videotape format, whereas the Ampex VRX-1000 is the first commercially successful videotape recorder.

Television programming, which is being recorded on tape, provides more schedule flexibility, but also attracts famous celebrities untied to live broadcasts.

Kinescope is the process used to film the television screen, but it is cumbersome and expensive; both quadruplex and the Ampex VRX-1000 are solutions to these limitations.

With both quadruplex and the Ampex VRX-1000, television quality improved.

For Type C videotape, it is smaller, easier to operate and provides slightly higher video quality than quadruplex.

Plus, Type C performs functions that quadruplex has not, like still and slow-motion playback.

EIAJ-1 is the first standarized concept for industrial/non-broadcast video tape recorders using a helical scan system employing open reel tape.

CV-2000 is one of the first video tape recorders for home use and the first fully transistorized VCR.

Trinitron is the brand name for Sony's system of television sets.

Some of the notable innovations for Sony's Trinitron system of television sets include vertical bars, one electron gun, an aperture grille and a flatter screen surface in design.

With these innovations, Trinition is an advancement in colour television technology.

Before Sony's Trinitron system, early television sets featured dots, three electron guns, a curved screen surface in design and a shadow mask; these resulted in a dimmed and grainy picture quality.

However, with Sony's Trinitron system, television sets have found solutions to these issues.

FD Trinitron/WEGA is Sony's flat incarnation of this Trinitron system, which featured a flatter screen surface and further improvements to the electron gun, the aperture grille and the deflection yoke.

The Ikegami HL-33 is the first compact hand-held colour video camera being utilized for the electronic news gathering business.

Before ENG, film was the primary medium for recording and broadcasting news footage.

U-matic

Thuy Trang and Lana Condor

Thuy Trang (1973-2001) and Lana Condor (b. 1997) are acting girls born in South Vietnam, a former American ally, and later becoming American citizens.

Similarly, both Thuy Trang and Lana Condor were born years of the Ox/Water buffalo.

Maria Celeste Arraras

Maria Celeste Arraras (b. 1960) is an influential and a popular woman in the television scene of the Spanish-speaking world.

Known for her charisma and charm, Maria Celeste Arraras is a trailblazer in Hispanic television.

Top forty

Top forty means the forty currently most popular songs, often within a genre or a radio concept; it also means a radio concept itself, known as Contemporary Hit Radio (CHR).

CHR focuses on playing modern music.

Having been created in response to the rising popularity of television as a threat to radio, top forty was popularized by Todd Storz and Gordon McLendon.

Beyoncé and Shakira

Shakira and Beyoncé are iconic and world-renowned pop icons with distinct music styles and cultural impacts.

Both Shakira and Beyoncé have similarities: their worldwide recognition, their strong vocals and their dynamic stage presence, their multi-Grammys, their enduring careers and their dancing skills.

In addition, both Shakira and Beyoncé have 3-syllable and 7-letter names, but they are also known for their philanthropic work.

While being pop artists, the music of both Shakira and Beyoncé have incorporated different genres and influences: Shakira has Latin, rock and pop, and Beyoncé has rhythm & blues, hip-hop and pop.

Plus, Shakira supports Latin music and culture worldwide, and Beyoncé supports black themes.

Furthermore, Shakira's dancing style fuses Latin and Middle Eastern belly dancing, whereas Beyoncé's dancing style is rooted in hip-hop and rhythm & blues.

Alexis Bledel

News music

News music features the rhythm of a teletype machine or Morse code, together with two of the loudest instrumental groups in the Western orchestra: brass and percussion.

During the 20th century, teletypes and Morse code are major methods being used to transmit news and information, especially in newsrooms before computers and telephones become widespread.

Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence by Lalo Schifrin is also used through newscasts.

What makes Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence a fitting music cue for newscasts is a staccato rhythm resembling the teletype.

Despite not being used in its original form, Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence has been influential in news music.

Utilized in many television newscasts from around the world, Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence has established a certain style and sonic landscape for news music.

The cinematic quality being heard in Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence, which combines its driving rhythm with instrumentation, is adopted and adapted in news themes.

From the late-1960's to the early-1990's, Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence had been the Eyewitness News theme tune, mainly used in its edited form by ABC-owned stations and affiliates.

Increased licensing fees forced local television stations, in particular those using the Eyewitness News concept, to drop Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence by Lalo Schifrin in the 1990's.

New York's ABC station WABC-TV was the first to exploit Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence as the Eyewitness News theme when Al Primo arrived in the late-1960's or before 1969.

Adding to Eyewitness News on WABC-TV under Al Primo was happy talk.

The Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence cue was also used outside the United States, notably in both Canada and Australia.

For Canadians, Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence is the famous theme tune for Pulse on CFCF; for Australians, it is the famous theme tune for National Nine News.

Just before Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence was adopted for the WABC-TV version of Eyewitness News, earlier television news themes featured fanfares in a neutral tone.

Plus, the teletype or Morse code sound was a news sounder without music accompaniment.

With Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence, television news themes have a modern cinematic sound.

Television stations have either used The Tar Sequence or created their own news themes mirroring its modern cinematic sound, especially since the WABC-TV version of Eyewitness News.

007 and 007 Takes The Lektor, two of the music pieces being composed by John Barry for the 1960's James Bond film called From Russia With Love, are also notably used through newscasts.

Like Lalo Schifrin's Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence, what makes From Russia With Love: 007 a suitable music cue for newscasts is a staccato rhythm resembling the teletype.

News executive Al Primo pioneered the use of music being sourced from movies as news themes, all resulting in a more modern and cinematic news music sound than the neutral one of the past.

Aujourd'hui C'est Toi from A Man and a Woman by Francis Lai (in its instrumental iteration) is also utilized through newscasts and current affairs.

In the UK, the BBC's Panorama, which is the longest-running television current affairs program in the world, uses an adaptation of Francis Lai's Aujourd'hui C'est Toi as its theme tune.

What makes Francis Lai's Aujourd'hui C'est Toi piece a fitting music cue for both television news and current affairs is its use of timpani drums, its strings and its French flavour.

The use of timpani drums in Francis Lai's Aujourd'hui C'est Toi piece can convey drama, urgency and importance, all being suited qualities for a news and current affairs program.

Strings in Francis Lai's Aujourd'hui C'est Toi piece convey gravity and significance.

Fast Action, composed for the De Wolfe label and performed by the Laurence Stephen Orchestra, is a stock music cue notably being used for television news.

What makes Fast Action, composed for De Wolfe Music, a fitting music cue for television news is its dynamic and urgent sound, punctuated by brass and strings.

Heavy Action, composed for KPM/EMI in 1974 by Johnny Pearson and released on its own Industrial Panorama album, is known for its usage on Monday Night Football.

Until the 1980's, the intro sequences for Eyewitness News had a simple wide shot of the studio as the news team walked onto the studio set.

Move Closer to Your World is an iconic and famous television news music package that is based on a jingle and still used by WPVI-TV and WNEP-TV.

Before MCTYW, The Action News Theme was the first theme used for the Action News format.

Tom Sellers, who was a student attending Temple University, which also features fellow students Daryl Hall and John Oates (Hall and Oates), wrote The Action News Theme.

Al Ham, who was a session musician in pop music, wrote Move Closer to Your World.

Similarly, both Tom Sellers' The Action News Theme and Al Ham's Move Closer to Your World are centered around a trumpet lead and a timpani-driven finish; they also play in the same key.

Plus, both The Action News Theme and Move Closer to Your World have a soul-pop sound.

The first station to use Move Closer to Your World is WNAC-TV, which is one of the first television stations in the United States to use a jingle-based news music package as well.

For years, WPVI-TV and WNEP-TV, two of the ABC television stations based in Pennsylvania, have utilized Move Closer to Your World, doubling as the only US stations to use this music package.

Aside from both WPVI-TV and WNEP-TV, WJET-TV is another ABC station in Pennsylvania which utilizes Move Closer to Your World.

WPXI, though not an ABC station, is another Pennsylvania station using Move Closer to Your World.

Outside Pennsylvania, WKBW-TV, a former sister station of WPVI-TV, notably used Move Closer to Your World, as did other Capital Cities/ABC stations like WTVD, WTNH, KTRK and KFSN.

Score Productions, based in New York City and held by Robert A. Israel, has been responsible for the music packages being made for both ABC News and ABC Sports under Roone Arledge.

Ever since its inception, Action News has used its fast-paced cinematic intro montage, which includes quick cuts, bold graphics and driving music.

The fast-paced intro sequence for Action News differs from the static intro for Eyewitness News.

Classical Gas by Mason Williams is one of the pop music tunes also being used through newscasts.

For Classical Gas, what makes it a fitting music piece for newscasts, in particular television news, is a distinctive and unique classical and pop combination, its driving rhythm and its upbeat feel.

Like Move Closer to Your World, Classical Gas is being used for Action News.

Some stations that use the Eyewitness News format have their intro sequences made in the style of an Action News intro to reflect a more fast-paced and modern presentation.

Fool's Overture by Supertramp is one of the pop music tunes also being used through current affairs programs.

CTV's W5 notably used a synth-heavy instrumental portion of Fool's Overture by Supertramp.

Dancing in the Stars by Mannheim Steamroller is likewise a pop music piece also being used through newscasts.

What makes Mannheim Steamroller's Dancing in the Stars a fitting music cue for television news is a combination of pop and orchestral elements.

The Mission is an orchestral suite, composed by world-famous Hollywood film music composer John Williams as a television news music package for NBC News.

Having consisted of four movements, The Mission altered this news music sound by moving from the conventional fanfare-based themes towards a symphonic and nuanced approach.

During the 1980's, CNN used stock music cues from many labels, including De Wolfe, KPM, Bruton, Sonoton, Killer Tracks, FirstCom, Atmosphere, Match, Parry, Omni, etc.

Plus, during the 1980's, CNN created custom music for its station identifications.

In 1990, its 10th year, CNN contracted Score Productions to create custom music; it already provided music for CNN's sister network called CNN Headline News since the 1980's.

Some music cues being created for CNN by Score Productions are also stored in the Turner Broadcast Music Library by Sound Ideas

Besides Turner, Sound Ideas formerly distributed De Wolfe Music and Beatbox Music in Canada.

During the Cold War, television news music themes in the Eastern Bloc sounded neutral.

With Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms (glasnost/perestroika), television news music themes in the Eastern Bloc began adopting a more modern uniform Western-influenced sound.

Meanwhile, in both mainland China and Vietnam, many news music themes utilize a modern Western sound, whereas some others sound traditional.

Some Chinese composers also do television news music in a modern Western sound.

Ever since the late-1920's advent of talkies, many stock music labels have used recorded music from different eras and genres.

For the corporate/industrial genre, especially in news and current affairs, stock music incorporates the sounds of technology like the teletype or Morse code.

Plus, the corporate/industrial genre in stock music uses a modern and cinematic orchestral feel, which combines grand orchestral arrangements with industrial and corporate settings in a modern age.

Many modern news music packages incorporate music techniques frequently found in film scores to enhance the emotional impact and storytelling of the news.

Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera

Britney Spears (b. 1981) and Christina Aguilera (b. 1980) are pop culture and sex icons.

Some Britney Spears trademarks are her midriff, vocal fry, blonde hair, brown eyes, etc.

Through her soulful singing voice, her charisma and others, Britney Spears electrifies and captivates people around the world, especially America.

Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) is one of the most famous, respected and influential pop culture and sex symbols in history, but also a legendary and an unconventional figure in beauty and fashion.

The iconic and world-famous trends of Marilyn Monroe include platinum blonde hair in curls, full red lips, blue eyes, a mole/beauty mark and a curvaceous figure.

Plus, Marilyn Monroe's voice has a soft, smooth, breathy and silky tone.

Charisma, charm, beauty, grace, class, youth and sex appeal, among others, are some of the qualities which make Marilyn Monroe an iconic sex symbol.

In addition, Marilyn Monroe also exudes sex, rebellion and the post-war American experience.

Having been a hot and sexy blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe is also a symbol of resilience for many girls/women around the world.

Unconfined to being an actress, Marilyn Monroe is also a model and even a singer.

While known for her iconic dresses and glamorous style, Marilyn Monroe also has a more casual, even androgynous, look with jeans, which she popularized among females as a sexy attire.

Jazz and swing are African-American music genres and Marilyn Monroe's favourite music.

Both jazz and swing, which are Marilyn Monroe's favourite music genres, indirectly contribute to the development of the modern genres, like pop, rhythm & blues, soul, funk, rock and hip-hop.

June 1, 1926 is when Marilyn Monroe came into the world with a Gemini sign, making her one of the best and most famous, successful and iconic Gemini celebrities ever.

Marilyn Monroe breaks taboos around sexuality, but is also sexually exploited by the industry.

In addition, Marilyn Monroe's life is also marked by tragedy, including mental health issues, substance abuse and marriage collapses.

Unconventionality and mystery both surround Marilyn Monroe's life, career and death.

Still in all, Marilyn Monroe's influence on Western pop culture is always undeniable, with her legacy extending across music, fashion and youth trends.

Los Angeles and New York are some of the noted cities in which Marilyn Monroe lives and spends her life; she also travels to other locations, like the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and Korea.

From her humble beginnings as a small-town girl, Marilyn Monroe has become a world-famous star.

The Blonde Bombshell, MM and Double M are some of Marilyn Monroe's nicknames.

While she is a sex symbol, Marilyn Monroe is also a cultural icon for younger generations (teens and young adults).

Due to her progressive views on social issues, her intelligence and her pioneering approach to fashion and fitness, Marilyn Monroe is ahead of her time.

In addition, Marilyn Monroe also enjoys foods and appreciates them all with expressions like "That's good."

Sundaes, especially chocolate caramel, are some of Marilyn Monroe's favourite foods.

Baby is a term of endearment frequently used by Marilyn Monroe.

For example, Marilyn Monroe uses "baby" or "Oh, baby," both in her persona and in her films.

Ever since her death in 1962, Marilyn Monroe's influence has extended to music, the genres of which include rhythm & blues and soul, both rooted in jazz and swing, which she used.

Many other girls/women have jumped on Marilyn Monroe's bandwagon.

James Dean (1930's-1950's) is, like Marilyn Monroe, one of the most influential pop culture and sex symbols in history.

Some James Dean trademarks include a white T-shirt, zip jacket and jeans, all which represent a new youthful generation against traditions.

Charisma, charm, rebellion, grace, class, defiance, youth, wit and sex appeal, among others, are some enduring qualities making James Dean an iconic sex symbol, like Marilyn Monroe.

Plus, like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean exudes sex, rebellion and the post-war American experience.

In addition, like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean's life is also cut short by tragedy.

Unconventionality and mystery both surround James Dean's life, career and death, just like Marilyn Monroe.

Still in all, just like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean's influence on Western pop culture is always beyond doubt, with his legacy extending across music, fashion and youth trends.

While he is a sex icon, James Dean is also a cultural icon for teenagers and young adults like Marilyn Monroe.

Elvis Presley (1930's-1977) is also a world-famous pop culture and sex icon, like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.

Charisma, charm, rebellion, defiance, youth, and sex appeal, among others, are some enduring qualities making Elvis Presley an iconic sex symbol, like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.

In addition, like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, Elvis Presley exudes sex, rebellion and the post-war American experience.

Rhythm & blues, soul, gospel, country, pop and rock are Elvis Presley's main music genres.

Plus, rhythm & blues, soul and rock are rooted in the earlier African-American music genres, including jazz and swing, both being Marilyn Monroe's favourite music genres.

Like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, Elvis Presley's life is cut short by tragedy.

Unconventionality and mystery both surround Elvis Presley's life, career and death, just like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.

Still, Elvis Presley's influence on Western pop culture is beyond doubt like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, with his legacy extending across music, fashion and youth trends.

While he is a sex symbol, Elvis Presley is also a cultural icon for teens and young adults, like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.

Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), who is friendly to Marilyn Monroe, is also a pop culture icon.

Marilyn Monroe's friendship with Ella Fitzgerald, combined with their shared love of jazz, blues and swing, helps the latter icon gain wider recognition.

The use of both the jazz and swing music genres by both Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald have an indirect influence on modern ones, like pop, rhythm & blues, rock, soul, funk and hip-hop.

While not explicitly a soul music icon, Marilyn Monroe's influence on women is profound, especially singers infusing soul into their music to project raw emotions and stories.

In fact, having supported and befriended black music icon Ella Fitzgerald, Marilyn Monroe indirectly endures an influence on female singers who got soul with rhythm & blues.

Jean Harlow (d. 1937) is the first ever blonde bombshell in Hollywood, but also a major inspiration for Marilyn Monroe, whose middle name comes from this 1930's sex symbol.

Often called the Blonde Bombshell and the Platinum Blonde, Jean Harlow laughs with charisma.

Mae West (1893-1980) is another original blonde bombshell, joining both Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow.

Starting her career in the stage, Mae West made the transition to film.

While Mae West is known for her stage career transitioning into film, both Marilyn Monroe and Jean Harlow began their careers in film.

Using the elements of both Jean Harlow and Mae West, Marilyn Monroe reshapes the sex symbol.

Not confined to being a sex icon, Britney Spears is also a cultural icon for teens and young adults.

Both Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe are some major influences on Madonna, who, in turn, is a key inspiration for Britney Spears, who is a 9th cousin, 3x removed from Marilyn Monroe.

Elizabeth "Betty" Hall is a woman being active in the 17th century who is a common ancestor for both Marilyn Monroe and Britney Spears.

Together, both Marilyn Monroe and Britney Spears use the name structure, with 7 letters in their given names and 6 in their last (13 overall), plus their facial looks and Jean as their middle name.

Both Marilyn Monroe and Britney Spears are also pop culture icons who won fame and popularity at a young age and became sex icons, captivating both the public and media.

Plus, both Marilyn Monroe and Britney Spears are blonde girls whose natural hair colour is brown, but also endure careers as actresses and singers.

Jean is the middle name for Britney Spears (and the given name for Jean Harlow), whereas Jeane is the middle name for Marilyn Monroe.

Baby, honey and darling are terms of endearment that are already being used by Marilyn Monroe, also popularized among younger generations by Britney Spears.

Through her music, Britney Spears has used the phrases "baby," "Oh, baby" or "Oh, baby, baby."

McComb, Mississippi is where Britney Spears was born, whilst Kentwood, Louisiana is where she was raised and spent most of her childhood.

Staten Island, New York is where Christina Aguilera was born, though the Steel City (which is based in Pennsylvania) is where she grew up.

Whereas Britney Spears uses a girl-next-door image, focusing on youthful and trendy looks, Christina Aguilera uses a more provocative image, incorporating retro elements.

Plus, Britney Spears is portrayed as a good girl, while Christina Aguilera is portrayed as a bad girl.

Furthermore, Britney Spears was signed to Jive/Zomba, while Christina Aguilera was signed to RCA Records label.

Marilyn Monroe is a key idol for Madonna and Mariah Carey, both of whom, in turn, are key idols for Christina Aguilera.

Xtina is the nickname for Christina Aguilera.

While she is a sex symbol, Christina Aguilera is also an icon for teens and young adults.

Christina Aguilera has a soulful and sexy singing voice.

Destiny's Child is a rhythm & blues girl group.

Beyoncé Knowles (b. 1981) and Kelly Rowland (b. 1981) are two of the most famous Destiny's Child members, the earlier being shortened to Beyoncé.

Marilyn Monroe is a key inspiration for Mariah Carey, who, in turn, is a key inspiration for Beyoncé.

Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Christina Aguilera are some of the major influences on both Ariana Grande and Jessie J.

Kyla (b. 1981) is a pioneer in rhythm & blues/soul music in the Philippines, but also a major figure in shaping rhythm & blues music in Asia.

Using soulful riffs, runs and melisma, Kyla is the Filipino answer to Mariah Carey.

Among Kyla's notable idols are Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé.

Melanie Hernandez Camplaud is the real name for Kyla.

Ray Charles, James Brown, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin serve as precursors of the Vocal Trinity comprising Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, in turn, idols for Kyla.

Both Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe are idols for Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, the latter being a major idol for Filipino rhythm & blues/soul singer Kyla.

Jay R (b. 1981) is, like his friend and partner Kyla, a Filipino rhythm & blues/soul music pioneer.

Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross and Michael Jackson are some of the idols for Jay R.

Gaudencio Sillona III is the real name for Jay R.

Both Kyla and Jay R are pioneering icons of the Filipino rhythm & blues music scene; in fact, they are well-known as Rhythm & Blues Royalities.

Angela Via (b. 1981) is a singer in the rhythm & blues and soul genres, yet is unknown.

With a soulful singing voice being characterized by riffs, runs and melisma, Angela Via has been often influenced by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion (Vocal Trinity).

In essence, Marilyn Monroe is a key idol for Mariah Carey, who, in turn, is a key idol for Angela Via.

Raymondville, located in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas, is where Angela Via was born.

Having Mexican, Spanish, Native American and European ancestries, Angela Via is a Latina girl.

Both Mariah Carey and Angela Via have similarities.

For one reason, both Mariah Carey and Angela Via have soulful singing voices being characterized by riffs, runs and melisma; they were also born in a year of the Rooster.

Jane Zhang (b. 1984) is a Chinese-language singer in the rhythm & blues and soul genres.

Having been China's answer to Mariah Carey, Jane Zhang uses her soulful riffs, runs, melisma and the whistle register, the latter earning her the nickname Dolphin Princess.

Both Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe are idols for Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, the latter being a major idol for Chinese rhythm & blues/soul singer Jane Zhang.

Monika Ivkic (b. 1989) is a rhythm & blues/soul singer in the Balkans.

In her English-language tunes, Monika Ivkic has her soulful singing voice, filled with riffs, runs and melisma, inspired by both Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé.

Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion serve as key idols for both Christina Aguilera and Beyoncé, who, in turn, are influences for Monika Ivkic.

The iconic and world-famous breathy and cooing voice of Marilyn Monroe is a tactic that she used to overcome a childhood stutter; in fact, her voice is a gentle breeze.

Plus, Marilyn Monroe famously poses on a bed covered in white bedsheets.

During an interview with Life magazine, Marilyn Monroe made a famous declaration that she wears Chanel No. 5 to bed, boosting the perfume's iconic status.

Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire are three of Marilyn Monroe's breakout movies, all released in 1953.

The Seven Year Itch and Some Like It Hot are Marilyn Monroe's films directed by Billy Wilder.

George Axelrod, who wrote The Seven Year Itch's original 1950's play iteration, also co-wrote its film version with Billy Wilder, in which Marilyn Monroe plays an unnamed actress and former model.

Marilyn Monroe wears a white dress being used in the best-known scene of The Seven Year Itch.

In the most well-known scene of The Seven Year Itch, Marilyn Monroe's white dress is blown up by a subway grate wind in New York, revealing her legs and under garments.

Known as a pop culture moment, the flying dress scene being featured in The Seven Year Itch is often associated with Marilyn Monroe's image as well.

Ever since her 1962 death, Marilyn Monroe's iconic white dress from The Seven Year Itch, where it's blown up by a subway grate, has been depicted, represented and imitated in many aspects.

For Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn Monroe performs Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend.

Marilyn Monroe dons a pink dress, which is used during her iconic Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend number from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

Likewise, ever since her death, Marilyn Monroe's pink dress, which is utilized during Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, has been depicted, represented and imitated.

William Travilla created two of Marilyn Monroe's most famous outfits: the white dress being used in The Seven Year Itch and the pink dress being used in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

How to Marry a Millionaire, starring Marilyn Monroe, is the first film shot in CinemaScope, also the second one to be released overall.

Directed by Henry Hathaway, Niagara is one of the dramatic films for Marilyn Monroe.

Rose Loomis is the character which Marilyn Monroe plays in Niagara.

Sugar Kane Kowalczyk is the character which Marilyn Monroe plays in Some Like It Hot.

Marilyn Monroe sings four songs in Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot film: I Wanna Be Loved by You, Runnin' Wild, I'm Thru with Love and the title track.

Plus, for Some Like It Hot, Marilyn Monroe sported a mole on her left cheek, not her upper lip.

Something's Got to Give features a nude Marilyn Monroe in a swimming pool, which is an iconic and famous scene being imitated, represented and depicted.

Plus, Marilyn Monroe's Something's Got to Give scene, where she swims nude, is unconventional.

Rebel Without a Cause is the most famous of all three films starring James Dean.

Directed by Nicholas Ray, Rebel Without a Cause is a highly-influential film for teenagers and young adults, with James Dean as Jim Stark.

For Rebel Without a Cause, James Dean dons a white T-shirt, blue jeans and a red leather jacket.

Moss Mabry designs James Dean's world-famous outfit: the one which consists of a white T-shirt, blue jeans and a red leather jacket, being used for Rebel Without a Cause.

Plus, both Marilyn Monroe and Natalie Wood attend Van Nuys High School, but also appear in a 1948 film Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!

In Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!, Natalie Wood plays a larger role than Marilyn Monroe.

Gone with the Wind is also one of the greatest and most successful films ever, starring Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.

Zomba's 2002 sale to BMG put musicians like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Christina Aguilera and Alicia Keys under the BMG banner.

Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad are Michael Jackson's Epic albums that achieve critical and commercial successes and earn legendary status, all co-produced by Quincy Jones.

The first of three albums being released for Michael Jackson by CBS' Epic Records label, Off the Wall establishes him as a pop star, also marking a transition from a child icon to a mature solo artist.

Off the Wall also marks a break from Michael Jackson's Motown work and his major breakthrough.

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough is Michael Jackson's first solo tune where he has full creative control.

For his second album released by Epic Records, Thriller significantly cemented Michael Jackson's pop culture status, largely due to the innovative music videos accompanying this album.

Billie Jean, Beat It and Human Nature, aside from the title track, are some songs for Michael Jackson's Thriller album.

The music video for Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, directed by Steve Barron, is the first ever by a black artist to earn heavy rotation on MTV.

Due to the huge success and popularity of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean music video (plus many others from his Thriller album), MTV's initial focus on white artists was broken down.

At the same time, the music video for Michael Jackson's Beat It, directed by Bob Giraldi and filmed in Los Angeles, established the pop star as an international icon.

Michael Jackson's Thriller music video, directed by famous film director John Landis, sealed MTV's position as a major cultural force and revolutionized music video production.

Praised for its innovative production, its stunning choreography and its cinematic approach, Michael Jackson's Thriller music video inspired countless artists and directors to emulate its style.

Taking responsibility for the choreography in Michael Jackson's innovative and groundbreaking music videos Beat It and Thriller was Michael Peters.

Bad, which is Michael Jackson's third Epic album, represents a shift towards a more mature and edgy image, departing from his boyish persona.

Lucky Star is Madonna's first top five hit; its music video features her fashion/style, which became the trend among the young generation of the time.

The music video for Madonna's Material Girl pays tribute to Marilyn Monroe's Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend performance in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, earning heavy rotation on MTV.

You Give Good Love is the first top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Whitney Houston.

Whitney Houston's iteration of Saving All My Love for You is her first ever number one hit on the Hot 100 chart, but also her worldwide breakthrough.

How Will I Know is Whitney Houston's first upbeat tune.

The music video for How Will I Know serves as Whitney Houston's first to receive heavy rotation on MTV, which gave her exposure to teenagers and made her the first black woman to do so.

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) is a shift for Whitney Houston by reaching a wider audience with a more pop-oriented music sound after hits with ballads on her debut album.

George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam and Narada Michael Walden are the masterminds behind Whitney Houston's upbeat tunes: How Will I Know and I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).

The soulful rendition of the Dolly Parton song I Will Always Love You serves as Whitney Houston's signature tune, but also a cultural phenomenon.

Vision of Love is Mariah Carey's debut single, but also popularized riffs, runs, melisma and the whistle register in mainstream pop music.

Mariah Carey's Vision of Love tune is also the blueprint for future female singers using her techniques.

During the climax of her own Vision of Love song, Mariah Carey uses her whistle register, which she popularized; the inspiration for Mariah Carey's whistle register is Minnie Riperton.

Someday is Mariah Carey's first upbeat tune.

Emotions is Mariah Carey's sophomore album, which, besides its title track, features others like Can't Let Go, Make It Happen, etc.

For the title track of her second album, Emotions features Mariah Carey's upper range and her whistle register.

Unconfined to Mariah Carey's whistle register, Emotions also has disco, rhythm & blues and gospel.

What's the 411? is Mary J. Blige's first album, innovative in that it fuses rhythm & blues and hip-hop to create hip-hop soul.

The remix of What's the 411? is also innovative, as it is the first album to feature a rapper in each tune.

In other words, the remix of What's the 411? popularized rap as a featured act in mainstream music.

Music Box features such songs as Dreamlover, Hero, Without You and Anytime You Need a Friend.

Dreamlover is Mariah Carey's first attempt to incorporate hip-hop into her songs, influenced by Dave Hall's work with fellow New Yorker Mary J. Blige.

Blind Alley by The Emotions samples Mairah Carye's Dreamlover tune.

Hero is deemed by many to be Mariah Carey's signature song, known for its message of finding inner strength and self-empowerment.

Without You is Mariah Carey's soulful cover version of the 1972 tune of the same name.

The music video for Anytime You Need a Friend marks Mariah Carey's first image change.

All I Want for Christmas is You is a modern Christmas anthem for Mariah Carey, which blends various music genres, like pop, rhythm & blues, soul and gospel.

Furthermore, Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You also mixes 1960's rock and Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, especially in its structure and instrumentation.

With Dreamlover being Mariah Carey's first attempt to utilize hip-hop, Fantasy further solidified this direction; its remix, featuring ODB, is produced by Puff Diddy, who worked with Mary J. Blige.

Puff Diddy's remix of Mariah Carey's Fantasy popularized the trend of rap verses in pop tunes.

Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club samples Mariah Carey's Fantasy.

Honey's music video marks a step up for Mariah Carey to embrace a more liberated and overtly sexual image, in contrast to the traditional and demure persona she has cultivated.

Mariah Carey's cover version of the late-1980's Brenda K. Starr tune I Still Believe, for whose original version she sings backup, is a moderate worldwide success.

Incidentally, singing backup for Brenda K. Starr is Mariah Carey's first professional music work.

During her career, Mariah Carey has had a connection to Old Hollywood, especially Marilyn Monroe.

The music video for Mariah Carey's own cover version of I Still Believe is based upon the 1954 visit to South Korea for a USO tour by her idol Marilyn Monroe.

Mariah Carey also surprises the audience at the curtain call of the musical incarnation of the late-1950's comedy film Some Like It Hot; the film stars her idol Marilyn Monroe.

Plus, the music video for Mariah Carey's Butterfly tune is based upon the 1950's film Baby Doll, which features Marilyn Monroe's friends Elia Kazan and Carroll Baker.

Carroll Baker was chosen to star in Baby Doll over Marilyn Monroe, who helped promote this film.

What motivated Mariah Carey to be a co-producer for the musical iteration of Some Like It Hot is her passion for the leading star of the original film version named Marilyn Monroe.

Baby One More Time is Britney Spears' first hit.

The famous and influential music video for Baby One More Time features Britney Spears wearing a school uniform with a midriff-baring top/crop top.

Stronger is also a big hit for Britney Spears; its lyrics reflects on resilience after a breakup.

Plus, the music video for Britney Spears' Stronger tune serves as a diversion from her previous music videos in that it has a darker tone.

Toxic features a music video in which Britney Spears wears many clothes, like a blue flight attendant uniform.

Candle in the Wind by Elton John includes two main versions, one about Marilyn Monroe in 1973, the other written as a tribute to Princess Diana in 1997.

Both versions of Candle in the Wind feature Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana as two of the famous women who died young at age 36.

Taylor Swift's music videos and early career are filled with references to Britney Spears.

For Marilyn Monroe, her beauty and premature death contribute to her status as an iconic figure.

In nostalgia, smoking cigarettes are icons of youth, rebellion, elegance, sexuality and style, especially when associated with people like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean.

Whilst cultural icons like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston are not eternally youthful in physical sense, their deaths have preserve their youth.

Since the 1990's, some songs have instrumental intros featuring soulful vocal riffs, runs and melisma before the main melody, inspired by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.

For the last chorus of some pop songs since the 1990's, the backup singers have harmonized with the primary singer doing soul, inspired by Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.

Between the first chorus and the second verse, soulful riffs, runs and melisma are used as breaks.

Riffs, runs and melisma, frequently associated with soulful singing girls/women, are some vocal styles being accompanied sporadically by sultry and breathy tones and moans.

The Idol franchise serves as a platform for young and upcoming singers, male and female alike, many doing pop, but also others like rhythm & blues, soul, rock, etc.

American Idol, one of the best and most successful Idol versions, features a vocal school.

Popstars is the precursor of the Idol franchise, both of which come from the countries of the former British Empire.

New Zealand is where Popstars originated, the UK is where the Idol franchise was born.

Some of the elements from Popstars, including a panel of judges in auditions and audience voting, are being adopted by the Idol franchise.

Mariah Carey's Vision of Love inspires the American Idol vocal school, which features many students being girls/women with soulful rhythm & blues/gospel vocals.

Plus, females have their hair getting wet in MTV-style music videos, either in the rain, splashing in the beach or when sweaty.

In other words, wet hair is sexy for girls in music videos with genres like rhythm & blues and hip-hop.

Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé and Shakira are some inspirations for Filipino singers.