Alternative Mainstream

Book excerpt: Which mechanisms and logics of decision-making form the basis of selections made by those working in the pop music circuit? Almost as a rule, the same bands will gain all the hype and make the crossover to fame. Why are only some bands considered, and why are these always the same? This book investigates the segment of the music industry that lies between mainstream and underground, including genres ranging from hip hop to rock, and from folk to electronic music. Keunen delves into the aesthetics and ideologies behind the alternative mainstream's cultural construct, embedding his findings in a broader socio-economic context.