mainstream vs. underground Options

[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...