This word lives a double life. On the one hand, it can describe something that is legitimately popular because it is good. However, through the hipster douche movement, the phrase "this ___ is mainstream" is used almost as often as "I love PBR" and "I need some more baby powder and Crisco to fit in my jeans."
According to many hipsters (or at least the obnoxiously arrogant ones), any musical artist that is signed to a label, sells music online or attracts more than a dozen people to his/her show is "mainstream," a "sellout," or any other word they found in their thesaurus they bought with their parents money.
According to many hipsters (or at least the obnoxiously arrogant ones), any musical artist that is signed to a label, sells music online or attracts more than a dozen people to his/her show is "mainstream," a "sellout," or any other word they found in their thesaurus they bought with their parents money.
One definition: "The band broke into the rock mainstream with its smash hit (insert song here)."
The newer definition: "Screw (insert band name here), that band is so mainstream. Come on, guys. Let's all dress in an identical manner and listen to music Pitchfork tells us is cool."
The newer definition: "Screw (insert band name here), that band is so mainstream. Come on, guys. Let's all dress in an identical manner and listen to music Pitchfork tells us is cool."
by DestroyAllHumans May 09, 2010
Something that is liked by a majority of people and doesn't pertain to any particular subculture. Mainstream is not a particular style of music, it has nothing to with rap, it has nothing to do with the media forcing various types of music down our throats. It's just stuff that a lot of people like. That's it.
And as for the people saying shit like "Mainstream should die"... What do you think would happen if everyone started listening to the more underground music that you like?
It would be mainstream. Faggot.
It would be mainstream. Faggot.
by Zer0T September 07, 2011
CRAPPY MUSIC that goes by the standards and implied guidelines set by other songs that are currently popular.
The only inkling of individuality is either a) the lead singer's voice, or b)the fucking tone of the guitar.
Both of those are still a rarity.
Sometimes, you can define a mainsrteam band by the ranking they are at on the top 40 list, or the iTunes most popular. But not always, because sometimes good indie music is mistakenly put there.
The only inkling of individuality is either a) the lead singer's voice, or b)the fucking tone of the guitar.
Both of those are still a rarity.
Sometimes, you can define a mainsrteam band by the ranking they are at on the top 40 list, or the iTunes most popular. But not always, because sometimes good indie music is mistakenly put there.
jock: "Dude, I just got this new CD. It's 'American Idiot' man!! I feel so bad-ass! Aren't they awesome, singing about America and shit?!"
smart indie kid: "Fuck man, don't spend money on that mainstream garbage.
Go buy some Pinback."
smart indie kid: "Fuck man, don't spend money on that mainstream garbage.
Go buy some Pinback."
by Tartar Martyr June 23, 2005
A term used to describe when a "underground" genre of musical expression has been fully embraced by the public media through aggressive advertising (aka MTV). Following this phase, the style begins to rapidly plummet in popularity while the ravenous leeches and posers choose to find a new fad to gnaw upon.
During the "Golden Years" of a mainstream topic, the genre recieves praise in record numbers, often represented by record numbers of identity-free morons with nothing to make themselves "stand out". It gains brief immortality during this phase, with not enough love, and not enough hate to dislodge it.
Only when the "haters" prevail in larger numbers in proportion to fans will the death sentence of a genre be finalized.
During the "Golden Years" of a mainstream topic, the genre recieves praise in record numbers, often represented by record numbers of identity-free morons with nothing to make themselves "stand out". It gains brief immortality during this phase, with not enough love, and not enough hate to dislodge it.
Only when the "haters" prevail in larger numbers in proportion to fans will the death sentence of a genre be finalized.
Rap music still hasn't died because for a decade, it has worked secretly to poison the urban population with wife-beating lyrics and brain-damaging rhythmes, making a permanantly imprint on the inner-city folk.
Very devilish plan indeed...
Very devilish plan indeed...
by Chang Tan May 16, 2005
by The Return of Light Joker October 05, 2007
What most people like. Not always bad because everyone likes it. Often is curropted by things like MTV
by Whatever... April 07, 2005
it's shite, a form of cloaking device to bundle the masses into one wavelength of similar thought...escape this desease of a music, lusten to underground music, music that requirtes thought and talent
by techno fan July 09, 2004