Zo0lz: What Defines Mainstream?

Satellite 06.10.11	Purchased, used or accepted broadly rather than by a tiny fraction of population or market; common, usual or conventional.
North0House2 06.10.11	Crap.
North0House2 06.10.11	I wouldn't call them mainstream though. I think anything that most people have heard of is "mainstream." There's not really a set definition, though, just kind of an ethereal concept.
Trebor. 06.10.11	Shit that's on the radio.
RavenRock 06.10.11	Mainstream are albums that hit the market, stay close to radio-friendly. Good examples are Hardline and Journey. Underground is a totally different style, the exact opposite of mainstream, albums that never get popular airplay or chart performance. That includes Gemini and Tesla.
liveatthegods 06.10.11	^ Close enough.
MO 06.10.11	Mainstream is for people who don't know any better.
Deviant. 06.10.11	The concept of mainstream music is that it's music that is generally deemed to be familiar and unthreatening to the general public. Hence, Odd Future are not mainstream
taylormemer 06.10.11	Basically the terms are rather undefinable and continually adjust accordingly towards an overall view that's historically significant. Just because something isn't on the radio doesn't necessarily mean it isn't mainstream, or vice versa, however radio does play a role. Mainstream is generally considered to be what the majority adhere toward, while underground is a counterculture to this, or simply a culture that doesn't subscribe to this. In terms of music, pop (which is what ever is popular at that point in time) is generally mainstream, whilst, say folk, a counterculture that developed during the 1960s after the Beatniks, could be considered underground. But nowadays that has drastically changed to the point where folk in some forms is mainstream, which leads one to introduce genres such as anti-folk, etc. Even folk during the 1960s could be classed as popular depending on your point of view. There is no one way to define the terms overall as they develop accoring to historic events, technological advancement and in general the gradual shift from one idiom to another, it's also affected greatly by generational change.
RavenRock 06.10.11	Great example Taylor.
WithHorsesInHerEyes 06.10.11	I thought it was defined by what label you're on.
taylormemer 06.10.11	lol
Kimm 06.10.11	I thought this was a joke and then I read the comments.
Spec 06.10.11	Mainstream is different everywhere. Where you are, it is most likely NICKELBACK.
Emim 06.10.11	mainstream sucks underground rules duh
Parallels 06.10.11	"Good examples are Hardline" lol nobody knows who hardline is but me and you dude. mainstream music examples are right now like Adele, Wiz Kahlifa, Rihanna.... etc.
Parallels 06.10.11	underground means they manage a fanbase differently than mainstream, they aren't promoted as heavily as other bands are by "singles" on the radio. Most mainstream bands push their singles on the radio, so their fan base grows exponentially, but underground artists develop fanbases by their albums more than singles. Mainstream artists are usually joked about as "flash in the pan" kind of stuff, due to so many 1 hit wonders over the years. They sell a lot all at once to the radio stations and music industry, but the fanbase can decrease as fast if their singles dont work. Many underground artists have very solid fans that remain supporters throughout their discography, rather than one or two albums.
rasputin 06.10.11	jake ends thread
Zo0lz 06.10.11	It's always nice to have a fresh opinion on things.
Puzzles 06.10.11	Penis mongering bullshit.
geng 06.10.11	If you can buy it in HMV, it's mainstream.
rockandmetaljunkie 06.10.11	radio friendly and simple music, is considered to be mainstream
taylormemer 06.10.11	Define simple music.
alextheantichrist 06.16.11	I'm from Ontario so the mainstream rock that I hear on the radio is Nickelback, Three Days Grace and Theory of a Deadman unfortunatelty.