Protopunk is a term used to describe a number of performers who were important precursors of the punk rock movement of the mid-1970s and later, or who have been cited by early punk rockers as influential.

Typically, protopunk bands were not considered punk themselves, and protopunk, per se, is generally not regarded as a distinct musical genre, as the precursors of punk rock came from a wide array of backgrounds, styles and influences.