What Does Yacht Rock Mean?

Yacht rock, also known as the West Coast Sound or adult-oriented rock, is a broad music style and aesthetic associated with soft rock, one of the most commercially successful genres from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. Drawing on sources such as smooth soul, smooth jazz, and RB, Yacht Rock is a distinctive and influential genre of music that emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is characterized by its smooth production, polished sound, and typically combines elements of jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock.

Yacht rock is a soft rock music genre that dominated FM radio airwaves in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is characterized by glossy production, breezy vocals, and bouncy rhythms, all elements of Yacht Rock. The genre was created between 1976 and 1984 in Southern California and is characterized by smooth vocals, jazzy tempos, catchy lyrics, and a high level of musicality.

Yacht Rock is often associated with an affluent Californian lifestyle, with well-written songs and great rock, marina rock, and other genres. The name “Yacht Rock” has been distorted due to the influence of artists like Yacht or Nyacht, making it easier to define and consume this genre.

The concept of Yacht Rock has led to a legitimate smooth-music renaissance in pop culture, but it also conjures up a particular lifestyle, with sophisticated hits that still resonate. The genre’s popularity can be seen on Spotify’s recent Yacht Rock playlist.