New Age music is music intended to create "sonic spaces," conducive of artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is a usually downtempo, soft, relaxing music that combines ambient electronics and world music elements. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments.

In media, it is sometimes associated with environmentalism and New Age spirituality. However, in reality, most artists in this genre have nothing to do with "New age spirituality" and some even reject the term because of its religious connotations.

New age music is an organic form rooted in the synthesis of many different music traditions, typically blending different European, Asian, African and Latin American forms into a unique style,. It often involves the pairing of acoustic instruments of many different ethnic origins, as well as electronic instruments. New age is often instrumental, but, if the vocals are involved, the lyrics usually deal with nature, spirituality, ancient cultures and mythology, and sometimes can be sang in ancient or even fictional languages.