Traditional pop music

Traditional pop (also classic pop or pop standards) music consists of Western (and particularly American) popular music that generally pre-dates the advent of rock and roll in the mid-1950s. Traditional/classic pop music is generally regarded as having existed between the mid-1940s and mid-1950s. AllMusic defines traditional pop as "post-big band and pre-rock & roll pop music." This definition is disputed by many scholars, however, as many of the most popular works of Cole Porter and those of George and Ira Gershwin pre-date World War II, while the works of Irving Berlin and Jerome Kern date to World War I.

The most popular and enduring songs from this style of music are known as pop standards or (where relevant) American standards. More generally, the term "standard" can be applied to any popular song that has become very widely known within mainstream culture.

The works of these songwriters and composers are usually considered part of the canon known as the "Great American Songbook".