Searching an opposite word

[Mrs.Blackadder]

Hi folks.
I'm searching the opposite word for "mainstream". I can't find it.
Can anybody help me?
Thanx a lot.

[Watermelon]

If you mean 'mainstream' as in mainstream music, then the opposite word should be 'underground'
(Im pretty certain thats right)

[raincat]

What about "independent" music?

[tomy81]

Hi folks.
I'm searching the opposite word for "mainstream". I can't find it.
Can anybody help me?
Thanx a lot.

Hi all,

Acc me the opposite world has to be nontraditional.
Ofcourse I am not quite sure about it

[A.wilhelm.scream]

What about "independent" music?

i agree. for me it is 'independent' or 'alternative' music, i think 'underground' is to specific. for example there are also bands that don't fit into the 'mainstream' but on the other hand can't be called 'underground'.

[Cliff]

btw. opposite words are called antonyms

[raincat]

btw. opposite words are called antonyms

[Cliff]

What is a typical alternative band or artist?
And what is it an alternative to?

I'd say the term 'underground' describes the opposite of mainstream best.

[A.wilhelm.scream]

well i think it really depends on the context, because it is difficult to decide which word fits best here and it depends on your own point of view. for me 'alternative' would be more suitable in the band etc. context.

[Cliff]

Can you name a few bands?

[A.wilhelm.scream]

lol probably a lot of people would kill me for this, because it still depends on the point of view, but ok.

Nirvana (i guess that's the number 1 band i connect with 'alternative')
Jimmy Eat World
Alien Ant Farm
CKY
Foo Fighters
Everclear
Lifehouse

well i'm sure there are lots and lots more, but these came to my mind.

[Cliff]

No, I won't kill you.

Nirvana (i guess that's the number 1 band i connect with 'alternative') - But aren't these guys considered grunge?
Jimmy Eat World - haven't heard much of them yet.
Alien Ant Farm - do they still exist???
CKY - okay, they're still pretty unknown
Foo Fighters - I'd say they're way to successful to be the opposite of mainstream.
Everclear - never heard before
Lifehouse - also never heard before

[A.wilhelm.scream]

haha thank you so very very much.

as far as i know grunge is a subgenre of alternative. I don't know if alien ant farm still exist, but i think they considered to be alternative, from what i have heard at least MTV thinks so . Ok, i agree with you on the Foo Fighters, i was actually thinking about a few years ago when they started, they had pretty cool songs

well still do not know what kind of 'mainstream' mrs.blackadder is talking about

oh and one thing about the 'alternative'-discussion: i have had lots of discussions about which band belonges to which scene and so on, it really gets on your nerves (i'm not talking about our discussion here Cliff, i like that one ), but what i think is that people really need to categorize bands and scenes and so on, to know with what they are dealing. it's like: open the drawer, put the person into it, close the drawer and bang they know who you are ;). people should just listen to the music they like without depending on scenes and clichés.

[Cliff]

Sorry I didn't answer you right away.
I agree with what you say about putting bands into certain genres and subgenres. It's just pointless. That's why I don't like the term 'alternative'. So many bands are considered alternative who don't sound alike. Besides, it's barely possible to tell what genre certain bands belong to. Some bands just cover too many styles.

[A.wilhelm.scream]

no problem at all.
so i guess we just leave it how it is