Tin Pan Alley
noun
: a district that is a center for composers and publishers of popular music
also
: the body of such composers and publishers
Examples of Tin Pan Alley in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Beginning with Tin Pan Alley at the turn of the 20th century, the music industry professionalized rapidly.
—
Time, 5 June 2025
On the Canadian election, Senate Republicans, Tin Pan Alley, and more
The Conservative Party was set to win Canada’s federal election after ten years of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 1 May 2025
Set underneath a skylight, an antique piano in the center of the dining room pays homage to the location’s former identity as Tin Pan Alley, the center of the city’s music industry in the height of the Jazz Age.
—Kristen Tauer, WWD, 20 Sep. 2024
Much of the music was religious or classical, but sheet music for secular, popular songs grew increasingly available over time, thanks in part to the emergence of publishing district Tin Pan Alley.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 20 June 2024
Morgan Spurlock, 'Super Size Me' director and documentarian, dead at 53: Reports
The earworm quality of Sherman’s work can be attributed to his upbringing with a songwriter father, Al, a famed Tin Pan Alley name.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 26 May 2024
Margo’s mother, Evelyn, was a radiologist; her stay-at-home dad, Seymour, was forever playing Tin Pan Alley standards on their grand piano.
—Will Hermes, New York Times, 4 June 2024
Blessed with a glorious soprano and the ability to make any song her own, McDonald shines equally bright whether singing musical theater favorites, bluesy laments, Tin Pan Alley chestnuts or jazz standards that sound anything but standard in her gifted hands.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2024
Catt sings in a jingly Tin Pan Alley curtain-raiser, eager to make men comfortable with the idea of extending the franchise.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
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Time, 5 June 2025
On the Canadian election, Senate Republicans, Tin Pan Alley, and more
The Conservative Party was set to win Canada’s federal election after ten years of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 1 May 2025
Set underneath a skylight, an antique piano in the center of the dining room pays homage to the location’s former identity as Tin Pan Alley, the center of the city’s music industry in the height of the Jazz Age.
—Kristen Tauer, WWD, 20 Sep. 2024
Much of the music was religious or classical, but sheet music for secular, popular songs grew increasingly available over time, thanks in part to the emergence of publishing district Tin Pan Alley.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 20 June 2024
Morgan Spurlock, 'Super Size Me' director and documentarian, dead at 53: Reports
The earworm quality of Sherman’s work can be attributed to his upbringing with a songwriter father, Al, a famed Tin Pan Alley name.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 26 May 2024
Margo’s mother, Evelyn, was a radiologist; her stay-at-home dad, Seymour, was forever playing Tin Pan Alley standards on their grand piano.
—Will Hermes, New York Times, 4 June 2024
Blessed with a glorious soprano and the ability to make any song her own, McDonald shines equally bright whether singing musical theater favorites, bluesy laments, Tin Pan Alley chestnuts or jazz standards that sound anything but standard in her gifted hands.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2024
Catt sings in a jingly Tin Pan Alley curtain-raiser, eager to make men comfortable with the idea of extending the franchise.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
Cite this Entry
“Tin Pan Alley.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Tin%20Pan%20Alley. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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