Rock music originated in the 1940s-1950s, heavily influenced by blues, rhythm and blues, and country music. In the 1960s, rock music became more popular than pop music and television helped expose the genre to wider audiences. The 1970s saw the emergence of subgenres like progressive rock, heavy metal, and hard rock as bands toured larger venues. Alternative rock and genres like grunge and pop punk rose to popularity in the 1990s, influencing heavy metal genres. Today rock music remains widely played with ongoing experimentation across various subgenres and audiences.