Soft rock, also referred to as lite rock, easy rock, and formally Mellow rock, is a style of music which uses the techniques of rock and roll to compose a softer, supposedly more ear-pleasing sound for listening, often at work. The appropriation of the term "rock" for music which some consider the very antithesis of rock and roll infuriates many of rock music's fans, leading to the following observation:

"Soft rock music ain't rock, and it ain't music. It's just soft." - George Carlin

Some bands/singers who have recorded a considerable number of songs considered soft rock: Phil Collins, Carole King, James Taylor, Bread, Wilson Phillips, Meat Loaf, Gloria Estefan, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Carly Simon, Gordon Lightfoot, Bette Midler, Eric Clapton, Whitney Houston, Céline Dion, and Seals & Croft .

See also: Adult contemporary music