Aklilu, ZewdieBelay, Alemyehu2022-06-182023-11-282022-06-182023-11-282020-09http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/32049Ethiopian music has a rich and diverse musical tradition with thousands of years of experience in both religious as well as non-religious practices. Ethiopian „modern pop music‟ experience is a recent phenomenon. This study has the central aim of proving and exploring the existence of “golden time” and the reason why the name “golden time” was given to a certain period music production in Ethiopian popular music production history. The beginning and the ending time (years) of the so-called “golden time” is some how controversial that, it needs special attention to be determined. The formation of the orchestra (bands) and the role of instruments are the main elements to classify the period as golden or not. The research is basically based on investigating musical elements found in the recordings.The melodies, baselines, chords, melodic phrases (verse and chorus), the usages of music instruments for solo playing and improvisation, rhythmic structures, scales and the instrument that used dominantly are identified. Data obtained from interviews and focused group discussions with key informants from music background are used as main reference. Documents and archives in the title of Ethiopian music, are also used. Both qualitative and quantitative methods in the descriptive approach are important to be imployed to conduct this research. Generally, this study focused on investigating the elements of music productions done within the time frame of the period so-called “golden time” to determine as golden or notenEthiopian modern pop musicfundamental musical characteristicsgolden timeThesis