--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alternative music is no longer…" description: "\"Alternative music is no longer alternative once it’s in the mainstream.\" — Kurt Cobain" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/kurt-cobain-1260_alternative-music_alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternati_2199120.jpg" --- # Alternative music is no longer alternative once it’s in… ![“Alternative music is no longer alternative once it’s in the mainstream.” quote by Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/kurt-cobain-1260_alternative-music_alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternati_2199120.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/kurt-cobain-1260_alternative-music_alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternati_2199120.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/kurt-cobain-1260_alternative-music_alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternati_2199120.jpg) > “Alternative music is no longer alternative once it’s in the mainstream.” [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When a subculture becomes mainstream, it loses its distinctiveness and edge. **In simple terms:** Mainstream erodes uniqueness. Key Takeaway Preserve originality. Themes culture commercialization authenticity Mood reflective critical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - music trends - fashion - art movements Key Concepts subculture dynamics mass media influence Questions to Reflect On - Can mainstream success stay true to roots? - How to keep authenticity alive? A Different Perspective Popularity can dilute original intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alternative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative/) [Alternative Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative-mainstream-3492999/) [Alternative music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative-music/) [Alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-is/) [Music Longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-longer-329487/) ## Related quotes > [I think I fall into a lot of cracks in terms of I'm too something. I'm too this, I'm too that. And my music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-d-lang/i-think-i-fall-into-a-lot-of-cracks-in-terms-of-i-m-too-something-i-m/) [K. D. Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-d-lang/) > [I love 'Seinfeld.' That was not alternative. You can't get more in mainstream than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-love-seinfeld-that-was-not-alternative-you-can-t-get-more-in/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [In the '90s, the radio was still alive with all different kinds of points of view, and I think that's why people are longing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/in-the-90s-the-radio-was-still-alive-with-all-different-kinds-of/) [Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/) > [I get a thrill meeting kids who are into alternative music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-get-a-thrill-meeting-kids-who-are-into-alternative-music/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [I think it's really cool, but Jimmy Eat World and Gin Blossoms did it better than anyone. People don't realize just how awesome the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/i-think-it-s-really-cool-but-jimmy-eat-world-and-gin-blossoms-did-it/) [Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/) > [I know there's a certain love and affection for the homemade on the Internet, and I'm all for that, too, and I appreciate it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-englund/i-know-there-s-a-certain-love-and-affection-for-the-homemade-on-the/) [Robert Englund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-englund/) > [When alternative music - which is supposed to be the standard-bearer of where white rock is headed - becomes either too cute or too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/when-alternative-music-which-is-supposed-to-be-the-standard-bearer-of/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [We grew up listening to alternative music from the '90s, and there was no shame in being on a major label and still making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-ruess/we-grew-up-listening-to-alternative-music-from-the-90s-and-there-was/) [Nate Ruess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-ruess/) > [The thing about me is, coming from an alternative music background and singing for nine years, being basically invisible, I'm so used to writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-del-rey/the-thing-about-me-is-coming-from-an-alternative-music-background-and/) [Lana Del Rey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-del-rey/) > [Perhaps our task in this shaky, fast-changing, bewildering world in which we live is to make music, at first with all that we have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itzhak-perlman/perhaps-our-task-in-this-shaky-fast-changing-bewildering-world-in/) [Itzhak Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itzhak-perlman/) > [I've been making Bass Communion music longer than any kind of other music. I don't know if you picked up a copy of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wilson/i-ve-been-making-bass-communion-music-longer-than-any-kind-of-other/) [Steven Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wilson/) > [Singing is a trick to get people to listen to music for longer than they would ordinarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/singing-is-a-trick-to-get-people-to-listen-to-music-for-longer-than/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [“It’s significant that we’ve been building musical instruments more than twice as long as we’ve been brewing alcohol. In The Origins of Music, published…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-evans/it-s-significant-that-we-ve-been-building-musical-instruments-more/) [Robert Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-evans/) > [“Music is no longer tasted it is swallowed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/music-is-no-longer-tasted-it-is-swallowed/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Imitation is being rewarded. They're learning that if you fit right in the mold, you get rewarded. Music is no longer a form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-watt/imitation-is-being-rewarded-they-re-learning-that-if-you-fit-right-in/) [Mike Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-watt/) ## More by Kurt Cobain > [To be positive at all times is to ignore all that is important, sacred or valuable. To be negative at all times is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/to-be-positive-at-all-times-is-to-ignore-all-that-is-important-sacred/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Vadalism: beautiful as a rock in a cop's face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/vadalism-beautiful-as-a-rock-in-a-cop-s-face/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [“No one is afraid of heights, they're afraid of falling down. No one is afraid of saying I love you, they're afraid of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/no-one-is-afraid-of-heights-they-re-afraid-of-falling-down-no-one-is/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [“Rather be dead then cool”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-then-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [I'll be the first to admit we're the 90's version of Cheap Trick or the Knack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-ll-be-the-first-to-admit-we-re-the-90-s-version-of-cheap-trick-or/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Don't read my diary when I'm gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/don-t-read-my-diary-when-i-m-gone/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [I'd rather hang out with the losers that would sit and smoke a cigarette than the ones who wanted to throw a baseball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-d-rather-hang-out-with-the-losers-that-would-sit-and-smoke-a/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Why in the hell do journalists insist on coming up with a second rate Freudian evaluation on my lyrics when 90% of the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/why-in-the-hell-do-journalists-insist-on-coming-up-with-a-second-rate/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [You know what I hate about rock? I hate tie-dyed tee shirts. I wouldn't wear a tie-dyed tee shirt unless it was dyed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/you-know-what-i-hate-about-rock-i-hate-tie-dyed-tee-shirts-i-wouldn-t/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [I only remember a few things about Jimmy Carter. He had big lips and liked peanuts. I now know that Jimmy Carter was and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-only-remember-a-few-things-about-jimmy-carter-he-had-big-lips-and/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [I've never been a very prolific person, so when creativity flows, it flows. I find myself scribbling on little notepads and pieces of loose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-ve-never-been-a-very-prolific-person-so-when-creativity-flows-it/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Don't expect me to die for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/don-t-expect-me-to-die-for-you/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [If you guys throw one more shoe or one more coin, I'm just going to leave my guitar next to my amp and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/if-you-guys-throw-one-more-shoe-or-one-more-coin-i-m-just-going-to/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [By definition pop is extremely catchy, whether you like it or not,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/by-definition-pop-is-extremely-catchy-whether-you-like-it-or-not/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) [Explore all 262 Kurt Cobain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) ## More Alternative quotes > [The alternative comedy scene is actually pretty small, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wilson/the-alternative-comedy-scene-is-actually-pretty-small-i-guess/) [Casey Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wilson/) > [In my book I specifically discussed the structural nature of injustice and offered Nine Touchstones of Goddess ethics as an alternative to the Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/in-my-book-i-specifically-discussed-the-structural-nature-of/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Maximise the alternative forms in which a user might receive a service, and the alternative sources of supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-chipp/maximise-the-alternative-forms-in-which-a-user-might-receive-a/) [Don Chipp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-chipp/) > [In January 2012, Google Plus started to roll out support for nicknames and pseudonyms, but those registering with a name other than their real-life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/in-january-2012-google-plus-started-to-roll-out-support-for-nicknames/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [It's American Alternative radio stations that bug me. We're considered Alternative, but don't expect us to be played next to Blink 182 and Offspring.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/it-s-american-alternative-radio-stations-that-bug-me-we-re-considered/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [There are some fantastic, brilliant alternative doctors out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-mills/there-are-some-fantastic-brilliant-alternative-doctors-out-there/) [Hayley Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-mills/) > [The alternative to the market process is government control, and we know where that principle leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-alternative-to-the-market-process-is-government-control-and-we/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Alternative services would mean that there would be services available to compete with Google, Facebook, Amazon, Dropbox, Skype, etc., and they would be run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikko-hypponen/alternative-services-would-mean-that-there-would-be-services/) [Mikko Hypponen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikko-hypponen/) > [I liked a lot of alternative and I like punk stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/i-liked-a-lot-of-alternative-and-i-like-punk-stuff/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [I've thought about what is an alternative word to feminism. There isn't one. It's a perfectly good word. And it can't be changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/i-ve-thought-about-what-is-an-alternative-word-to-feminism-there-isn/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [The Voice has always been an alternative paper. They have always understood that that was part of their role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-schanberg/the-voice-has-always-been-an-alternative-paper-they-have-always/) [Sydney Schanberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-schanberg/) > [Please don't eat less, eat right, don't hold it in, its okay to cry, do not hurt yourself there is always an alternative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/please-don-t-eat-less-eat-right-don-t-hold-it-in-its-okay-to-cry-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Gospel is not an alternative, it’s an ultimatum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/the-gospel-is-not-an-alternative-it-s-an-ultimatum/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [Alternative medicine plays into this exaggerated notion that you can prevent disease simply by doing the right thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-angell/alternative-medicine-plays-into-this-exaggerated-notion-that-you-can/) [Marcia Angell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-angell/) [Browse all 400 Alternative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Alternative music is no longer alternative once it’s in the mainstream.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kurt Cobain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternative-once-it-s-in-the-mainstream/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alternative" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternative-once-it-s-in-the-mainstream/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/kurt-cobain-1260_alternative-music_alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternati_2199120.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/kurt-cobain-1260_alternative-music_alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternati_2199120.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11c/kurt-cobain-1260_alternative-music_alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternati_2199120.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Alternative music is no longer alternative once it’s in the mainstream.” — Kurt Cobain", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kurt Cobain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Alternative music is no longer alternative...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternative-once-it-s-in-the-mainstream/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/alternative-music-is-no-longer-alternative-once-it-s-in-the-mainstream/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```