mainstream vs. underground Options

[*mzkandi*]

Main•stream (mAn’strEm’), n., adj.
1) A genre in music and other forms of media that is often defined by widely-accepted and currently-popular standards, trends, and hypes that have been established by the by the media, typically resulting in the promotion of superficial traits.

Underground

Art, opinion or organization that exists outside of mainstream society or culture. Also known as "independent" or sometimes "counter-culture".
Ex.
Giff preferred the underground music scene in her area to the bland stuff that played on most radio stations

http://www.urbandictionary.com

There is alot debate on the issue of mainstream vs underground music. Like some say mainstream artist are basically sellouts controlled by corporate America, while some say underground is basically people who cant afford get on a major record label because either cant really get their name out or are not good enough. What is your take on the two and which do you listen to more?

[hall0w]

id say mainstream

[katssso]

Mainstream works best for me.

[R-Mac]

Underground.

Underground artists and bands have much more freedom than mainstream artists. Whereas mainstream artists must go gold or fail, the underground aren't really pressured by that.

As for underground artists not being good enough, that is definitely a lie. We have so much crap rappers on BET and sucky bands on MTV it's not even funny.

So for now, I say underground >> mainstream, unless someone convincingly changes my mind.

[nightsong]

Definitely underground.

xo, Pauline

[*StanleyThePanda*]

Yeah, I like underground....although alot of the underground band I have been listening to for years.....are now starting to get mainstream....not too bad though.

[iheartjohn]

Underground. Mainstream artists are too hyped up.

[Saeglopur]

I like underground better personally. It's more artistic than greedy.

[Im So Vain]

I choose underground and I disagree with part about underground artists not being good enough, because in most cases what undergroind artists speak on in their music is more real. While mainstream artists are more into their self-image. Heres a quoute from an under ground artist im listeninhg to now

"I am not trying to market to that get naked crowd. My primary purpose is to serve people who like what I am doing."

-Kem

[*not_your_average*]

Underground, definitely.

[Hiphop d[-_-]b]

underground mos def.
mostly undergroung hipop & rap do it for me.
but some undeground rock [garage bands] are really good.

[lbjshaq2345]

some underground, some mainstream

[HongKongDong]

I am strictly underground music. Pure S. Cali underground
I honestly have no clue what is going on in the mainstream now-a-days.

[beambitious]

I listen to both. Some underground and some mainstream.Probably more mainstream though.

[beautifuls0ul_x3]

whatever is good. just because an artist has a fan base consisting of more than 5 percent of the population, doesnt mean the artist is bad. of course, conversely, just because an artist sells lots of albums, doesn't mean he is good either.

i really don't like this topic because it separates music into two groups - mainstream and underground. good music is good music.

[yummy_delight]

Underground artists aren't in it for the money. They're just making music because it's what they love. I like underground music better because it seems like what they have to say is more real than a lot of the mainstream music today since they aren't backed by corporate America.

Of course, that's not to say that mainstream doesn't have its positives. The reason why the music is mainstream is because it's what the people want. It wouldn't be mainstream if people didn't like it.

[Saeglopur]

whatever is good. just because an artist has a fan base consisting of more than 5 percent of the population, doesnt mean the artist is bad. of course, conversely, just because an artist sells lots of albums, doesn't mean he is good either.

i really don't like this topic because it separates music into two groups - mainstream and underground. good music is good music.

and old music is old music. *puts on Tony Bennett*

[*mzkandi*]

i really don't like this topic because it separates music into two groups - mainstream and underground.

Umm yeah this topic isnt seperating anything, thats just the way it happens to be, there are some artist that happen to make it big and some that dont and actually choose to stay underground. I am merely pointing out the fact people compare the two and wanting to know which one people listen to more

good music is good music

true.true
and bad music is bad music *shrug*

[*anubis*]

mainstream

[Levy2k6]

im into the underground stuff... i love alot of houston rappers.. alot of rappers come out of houston and made it like lil flip, mike jones and one or two others but i like there old stuff... mike jones was anoying even before he got mainstream tho.. lol.

i love me some chamillionaire... lol.

[inthemudhole]

Hm.
I guess I'm going to go with underground bands.
Mainstream bands aren't always overrated or terrible, you know.
I realize some of my favorite bands are mainstream or borderline mainstream, and I still respect them 100%.
However, underground bands are probably my overall preference.

[jnukes]

Underground .. DEFINATELY .

[PiGo]

eeh, It depends. I LOVE 90s mainstream R&B, but most of todays mainstream artists are garbage in the talent and quality department. I don't really listen to underground per se, just not mainstream if that made sense.

[*disco infiltrator*]

I prefer underground, but I'll listen to more mainstreamy bands if I like them.

[pyrochick19770]

Underground is my music of choice.

[Ineeddubs30]

Im not going to follow the trend and just say underground.

I prefer mainstream.

Each has its benefits and down sides.
For instance in the underground you can pretty much say what you want and express artistic freedom where as on the mainstream level you have certain boundaries that can’t be crossed.
Also another downside about the mainstream from pretty much all genres including rock, rap, and pop music is you have to display a certain image that satisfies the listener. Its not about the quality of the music, but more about the image of the artist. Whatever sells records I guess. On the other hand the underground is more about the music and not all about the money, however as soon as they go mainstream a lot of once faithful listeners will turn their backs on them and claim they are sellouts. I mean can you blame them when you have the opportunity to make more money. Put yourself and that perspective and ask yourself what you would do. One thing I do not like from every genre is that people have it set that the music genre should have to cater to their needs. There is no true way to define music no matter if you don’t think it should be about guns drugs, devil worshipers, or sex. Artistic freedom should be displayed no matter the subject. I know it sounds like Im more of an underground person, but I still prefer the mainstream because in my opinion I hear better music on the recognizable level. But like beautifuls0ul___x said that doesn’t change the fact that good music is good music. Another odd thing is when an artist becomes over popular all of a sudden he becomes overrated. I agree that fanbase does not make the better artist but obviously the artist must be doing something right in order to have his name recognized. True enough the most intelligent and intellectual artist such as the Commons, Mos Defs, and Talib Kwelis don’t get enough recognition and are definitely on my underrated list , but music evolves with time.

Im not afraid to say I listen to mainstream more often than underground.

Lol I wrote an article.

[Im So Vain]

^wow it really does seem like you wrote an article, but I feel what you were saying.

[antix10_kos]

I don't listen to much mainstream music anymore.....

There aren't many people who are into industrial and synthpop...and by synthpop, I mean stuff like Depeche Mode, not all this new wave bs like The Bravery and The Killers and stuff like that...those are the two main genres I listen to.

I listen to a lot of rock and metal as well, some of which is mainstream, some of which is not....it doesn't matter to me if a band has never put an album out or if they've sold 150 million albums, if I like 'em, I will listen to 'em and anyone who has anything to say about it can kiss my foot.

Rap is a strange genre of music to me, mostly because it's also pop...I dunno if that makes any sense, but it's becoming true....what I mean is, there are some very talented rappers and producers and other types of artists who once they make it big, start sacrificing their artistic skills to stay in the charts. Rap music is becoming dispoable, just like pop music and I know that a lot of rappers don't like that. Rap isn't pop in the sense that it's all fluff in the content. Some rap actually has a message and means something to the person who wrote it and who sings it.

Verdict: Listen to whatever you want....just don't force it on me....

[EAST0AKLAND9800]

Some underground, some mainstream.

[xquizit]

There's quite a lot of good mainstream artists who are often overlooked. Just because they're mainstream doesn't mean they're sellouts. However, they don't sell as well as other mainstream artists probably because... they haven't sold out.

[KMFDM_MDFMK]

96% persent of the stuff i listen to is underground. I do like some mainstream bands like marilyn manson and nine inch nails. I listen to practally anything it just happens that the majority of the stuff i listen to is underground.

[KMFDM_MDFMK]

96% persent of the stuff i listen to is underground. I do like some mainstream bands like marilyn manson and nine inch nails. I listen to practally anything it just happens that the majority of the stuff i listen to is underground.

[KMFDM_MDFMK]

96% persent of the stuff i listen to is underground. I do like some mainstream bands like marilyn manson and nine inch nails. I listen to practally anything it just happens that the majority of the stuff i listen to is underground.

[KMFDM_MDFMK]

sorry for the triple post

[b0st0ngrl]

I don't really listen to mainstream but I wouldn't really consider the music I listen to underground..

[Paradox of Life]

well said.
that's all there is to it.

good music is good music.

Agreed. Can't stand all this Simple Plan and Good Charlotte shit though when there are so many undiscovered bands that aren't given a chance for whatever reason. Good music is good music. It's all opinionative.

[blucheri]

i'd say mainstream. cuz when u think of it. most of the people that r mainstream now came from underground.

[*tweeak*]

underground. as my uncle put, it's horrible to know who else likes the same things as you, and watch them obsess childishly is depressing. however, i don't reject all mainstream music, i just don't like most of it

[*mipadi*]

I think it depends. I don't listen to music simply based on whether it is underground or not; I listen to it if I like it. There are some good mainstream bands out there. Some of my favorite bands, including Nirvana and Pearl Jam, were mainstream at one time.

I don't find that a band being "underground" necessarily gives it more cred, because let's be honest: often there's a reason that band couldn't get signed to a major label, and reason is that they blow. I'm not going to listen to crappy music just to seem more "scene."

Of course, mainstream music often has a more polished sound that is more palatable to the masses--a sound I don't care too much for. I like a raw, rough sound, not something that has been cleaned up and overdubbed and processed.

But really, it depends on the specific musician in question.

[Mr. Slowjamz]

I think it depends. I don't listen to music simply based on whether it is underground or not; I listen to it if I like it. There are some good mainstream bands out there. Some of my favorite bands, including Nirvana and Pearl Jam, were mainstream at one time.

I don't find that a band being "underground" necessarily gives it more cred, because let's be honest: often there's a reason that band couldn't get signed to a major label, and reason is that they blow. I'm not going to listen to crappy music just to seem more "scene."

Of course, mainstream music often has a more polished sound that is more palatable to the masses--a sound I don't care too much for. I like a raw, rough sound, not something that has been cleaned up and overdubbed and processed.

But really, it depends on the specific musician in question.

agreed .....specifically it depends on the musician in question .....there are many underground artists who had the oppurtunity to have a major label on them ...but with there moral differences ....they`d rather have an independent label and get big themselves......that i guess also includes fine art , and music classical , theartre ...etc...