"New traditionalists" and "pastiche" were two types of pre-hippie rock in the 1980s. "New traditionalists" was a groundbreaking style and was often about the working class. Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" is an example of new traditionalist music because it features American ethos about the working class.

New Traditionalists contains songs in a minimalist synth-pop style, with an emphasis on synthesizer riffs and dance rhythms, as well as an increased focus on electronic percussion.

The New Traditionalists (TNT), established in 1989, is a youth honor band sponsored by the Sacramento Jazz Education Foundation, which focuses on the performance of traditional jazz. The band is comprised of high-school aged musicians selected each year by audition.

Neotraditional country (also known as new traditional country and hardcore country) is a country music style that emphasizes the instrumental background and a traditional country vocal style. Neotraditional country artists often dress in the fashions of the country music scene of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.