My father, a music reviewer, coined ‘learned music’. The crux is careful study of theory, and its full application. This is not restricted to the western tradition, so when relevant, it can be clarified to ‘western learned music’.
To be sure, pop artists often know their music theory—but I think few would assert that they’re applying it to the fullest extent. Some would, and those are cases that don’t match ‘classical’ exactly, but have elements that a classical music fan might perk their ears at.
My father, a music reviewer, coined ‘learned music’. The crux is careful study of theory, and its full application. This is not restricted to the western tradition, so when relevant, it can be clarified to ‘western learned music’.
To be sure, pop artists often know their music theory—but I think few would assert that they’re applying it to the fullest extent. Some would, and those are cases that don’t match ‘classical’ exactly, but have elements that a classical music fan might perk their ears at.