Definition
A broad category of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s as an umbrella term for artists and genres existing outside the mainstream pop and commercial rock establishment, including indie rock, post-punk, college rock, and grunge. The term reflects both a sonic diversity and an anti-establishment ethos.
Example Usage
The radio station's alternative format mixed Sonic Youth with Nirvana and Pixies throughout the day.
Origin
The label 'alternative rock' arose in the mid-1980s to describe college and independent rock that was an alternative to both mainstream pop and classic rock radio formats.
Fun Fact
Alternative rock went from underground college radio phenomenon to mainstream dominance in 1991-1992 when Nirvana's 'Nevermind' topped the charts, fundamentally reshaping popular music and proving alternative could have mass appeal.
Related Terms
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