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The difference between "Mainstream" & "Underground"

No, I'm not some newbie who wants to know the difference....well, not entirely.

I'm always hearing different opinions in to what some people think is "Mainstream" or "Underground".

I have some friends who are strictly prog/dnb heads, and they think ANY type of trance, ANYTHING, is mainstream now. I don't agree with them at all! Sure, you do have your Mainstream trance like DJ Sammy, Alice Deejay, Lasgo, Darude (before Music ), ATB, etc etc, but then you have classic producers making QUALITY tunes like M.I.K.E, De Goeij, Ferry Corsten, Ralphie B, Darren Tate, etc etc.

Just because popular Trance DJs are famous like Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, and Ferry Corsten, they consider them mainstream. Sure they do play for the masses, but its the electronica masses. It's not like they're on TV 24/7 getting votes so their videos are played to the masses.

I think they're just a buncha elitest who want their music to stay exclusive, or to them, "underground".

Now my question to you is, what do you consider "Mainstream" & "Underground"?

Re: The difference between "Mainstream" & "Underground"

quote:

Originally posted by IpLaYWiTLiGhTs Just because popular Trance DJs are famous like Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, and Ferry Corsten, they consider them mainstream. Sure they do play for the masses, but its the electronica masses. It's not like they're on TV 24/7 getting votes so their videos are played to the masses.

come live over here for a while

Re: Re: The difference between "Mainstream" & "Underground"

quote:

Originally posted by ampburner come live over here for a while

Really? It's like that there? People vote and shit? ewwwww

So whats your opinion on those DJs.....who do you consider underground?

Yeah, mainstream is different depending on what part of the world you live in. Also, there is no true definition, it's all based on the opinion of the masses.

If I could get enough people to agree that Tiesto is underground, he'd eventually be considered that since it was popular opinion.

Re: Re: The difference between "Mainstream" & "Underground"

quote:

Originally posted by ampburner come live over here for a while

damn... I would if I could!

Re: Re: Re: The difference between "Mainstream" & "Underground"

quote:

Originally posted by IpLaYWiTLiGhTs Really? It's like that there? People vote and shit? ewwwww

well, it is with Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, and some lesser know n (Internationally speaking) hardstyle DJ's (Lady dana etc.)

example: Tiesto getting voted best DJ on the TMF (=mainstream tv, like MTV) awards. Ferry sometimes hops into the TMF studios to promote his new singles/live gigs and such. then there's Armin who got his own radio show though I wouldn't consider them mainstream.

Ti�sto definetely is. at least over here. not that I blame him or anything, man's gotta make a living

I knew nsync when they were underground HAHAHAHAHHA

it doesn't matter if an artist or DJ is mainstream or underground

if they are good, then they are good
if they suck, then they suck

pure and simple like that


if trance became mainstream and everyone listened to it, and doesn't become cheesy such as the likes of alice deejay etc..., i would still love to listen to it

quote:

Originally posted by kewlness it doesn't matter if an artist or DJ is mainstream or underground if they are good, then they are good if they suck, then they suck pure and simple like that if trance became mainstream and everyone listened to it, and doesn't become cheesy such as the likes of alice deejay etc..., i would still love to listen to it

agreed, but "and doesn't become cheesy" is a key part of your post. unfortunately, that's not always the case

quote:

Originally posted by kewlness it doesn't matter if an artist or DJ is mainstream or underground if they are good, then they are good if they suck, then they suck

indeed. i mean its pretty crazy that there's a sort of MTV-style thing for trance over there in Holland (probably lots of other place in europe ) .. however its inevitable that this thing would happen
i mean we all love trance (or dnb,prog whatever you prefer), we all comment on music, offer our opinions, etc. if you're into it, you'd love to hit the club/rave anytime you could.
the atmosphere, the community, its great! but yea again, just because someone's in the spotlight doesn't necessarily make it mainstream and "not worth listening too"..
i'm sure djs have a dream of hitting it big. i mean, look at the "commercialism" of hiphop here in north america, its crazy. personally i think there's too much "pop-hop" out there, cuz there are so many f'n hiphop songs where the lyrics just blow. the beat is absolutely amazing, but thats about it for me.\

if there IS a electronica mainstream.. i find nothing wrong with it..hell i'd probably still join in... because the music rocks, and i doubt too many of the other ppl that think the same would be conforming (sp?) a$$holes
this is a stereotypical comment, but i dont think djs would get into a fight with each other because a dj from the UK was playing dutch stuff... (koff, a reference to east/west coast for hiphop) ..

One day, like a year ago, I noticed how insanely huge Tiesto was getting. I said to myself "uh oh, the poor guy is going to sell out". I've waited through countless releases, and with his growing success and popularity, his music only gets better!

Trance is awesome because people get respect for putting out quality tracks, not looking the best on TV or magazines. Tiesto puts out quality tracks, we (the trance fans of the world) give him respect and buy his stuff. If Tiesto sold out, and put out pure crap from now on, we would hate him and not buy his stuff. We wouldn't care how many magazine pictures or TV exposure he has.

Tiesto is keeping it real, and knows who brought him to where he is today.

I like to think of mainstream as something generated out of the US. When boy bands became dominant and MTV started playing that garbage is when I think mainstream was born. You can argue that DJs like PvD, AvB, etc are mainstream, but not in the American mainstream.

quote:

Originally posted by DJKatheda One day, like a year ago, I noticed how insanely huge Tiesto was getting. I said to myself "uh oh, the poor guy is going to sell out". I've waited through countless releases, and with his growing success and popularity, his music only gets better! Trance is awesome because people get respect for putting out quality tracks, not looking the best on TV or magazines. Tiesto puts out quality tracks, we (the trance fans of the world) give him respect and buy his stuff. If Tiesto sold out, and put out pure crap from now on, we would hate him and not buy his stuff. We wouldn't care how many magazine pictures or TV exposure he has. Tiesto is keeping it real, and knows who brought him to where he is today.

Tiesto already sold out a long time ago...and his producing is getting worse....compare his productions from 98-01 to 02-03....Tiesto, as much as i love him, is a pop star.....only pop stars get featured on Coke cans

quote:

Originally posted by tiesto14 Tiesto already sold out a long time ago...and his producing is getting worse....compare his productions from 98-01 to 02-03....Tiesto, as much as i love him, is a pop star.....only pop stars get featured on Coke cans

He is a pop star...

DJs I like better than him now:

Misja Helsloot
Markus Schulz
satoshi tomiie
sander k
sasha

(You can argue sasha is as big as tiesto though)

yes, but sasha's not so public as tiesto. Look at a comparison from the rock world. Let's take Metallica and Tool for comparison. Metallica is the definition of sellout. Everything they do is for media attention, but the truth is they just plain suck ass now. Tool's quality has remained consistent, and really do you see them doing interviews/tv spots/constant appearances outside of concerts? No, but they are still amazingly popular. That's like the difference between say a Tiesto and a Misjah. Tiesto is all about the public appearnaces and getting the music known to more people. You can look at it two ways : either this is good for trance that he's trying to spread popularity of the genre to a larger audience and help the state of the music along or he's just selling out to get popular. (IMO it's a bit of both, but that doesn't matter right now.. heh) Either way though wtf.. you like his music, listen. If not, don't. Sellouts aren't always a bad thing for one reason. It creates competition, and as we should know from economics, competition makes a product by the competitors better. By Tiesto being as popular, it will drive others in the business of producing to make more quality tracks. Now is that so bad?

I dont believe in the word Sell-Out for starters. People work hard to promote themselves coz they wanna share the music to world (and of course make some money) they are just making it in the world and people always say they sell out. Alot of ppl i know dont listen to certain genres of music becoz they think it "too mainstream" i think it just means they dont care about the music anymore, its more like a "fashion/cool" thing to listen to something not many ppl arent into.

anyway thats what i think. oh yeah trance will always be number one for me.

The word mainstream has a few uses. The first is so that people who don't listen to "whatevers popular/so called fore fed the music industry decides what we listen to music" can feel special about there music. The second is so that people who don't listen to that type of music can feel special.

Conversely underground music is whatevers not on mtv or the radio.

All the big djs are pop stars. Pop=popular and when someone gets there own radio show or gets a bajillion people for his live "concert" or whatever you know he's pretty damn popular. Neither word means anything, and I'm sick and tired of both of them.

Misja Helsloot, best dj atm.....i think anyways...

I was actually talking to this guy this morning about the same thing - and I found it quite hard to explain to it to him - Paul van Dyk tracks are played on the radio - would that be underground or mainstream? The best way to find your answers is to listen to alot of livesets, study the tracks, and do some research on the artists, so forth. There isnt really a simple answer to your question. As you "grow" with the scene, you'll find it easier to understand.

Mainstream, Main Stream.. Stream Main

Mainstream is what's streamd mainly..

Mainstream in Sweden are Brittney Spears and other f*ckers like Justin Tibmerlake and boybands.

quote:

Originally posted by Omegasox Yeah, mainstream is different depending on what part of the world you live in. Also, there is no true definition, it's all based on the opinion of the masses. If I could get enough people to agree that Tiesto is underground, he'd eventually be considered that since it was popular opinion.

thats exactly what i think

one thing is for sure mainstream = opium for the masses

Re: The difference between "Mainstream" & "Underground"

quote:

Originally posted by IpLaYWiTLiGhTs I have some friends who are strictly prog/dnb heads, and they think ANY type of trance, ANYTHING, is mainstream now. I don't agree with them at all!

thats coz theyre arrogant fucks.

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