You might have heard the terms commercial or mainstream and non-commercial or underground music but may struggle when it comes to differentiating between the two. To break it down for you; mainstream or commercial music is music produced by big record labels and created by bands or musicians that have enjoyed widespread popularity and success.
Non-commercial or underground music on the other hand, loosely put is that which is not produced by big labels, that which is produced by bands that cater to a niche and so on. This brings us to the question; why should one explore non-commercial music?
The Commercial Trap
The first thing you need to understand is that everything commercial is not good. Where you may think commercial music equals good music, this is not always the case. According to one blog published on Culture Jamming, an online community, the production of commercial music is about business and making money before anything else.
For this reason, it is not about good music in theory, rather about what the masses want to hear. The masses however as opposed to deciding based on actual musical prowess. In many cases, people are easily influenced by the tastes of other people. Following this, trends catch on.
Commercial music producers then tailor and cut their music to line it with current trends. The result is a sort of watering down or anti-diversification of music available. In sort, commercial music does not equal good music.
Not Limited by Business
Underground and non-commercial music on the other hand is not limited by the boundaries of business and mainstream production. As a result, such groups, musicians and bands are able to diversify, evolve and experiment.
As a result, the musical scope of such bands and the sounds they offer in many ways out do the boundaries of what is produced commercially. Sure there may be non-commercial bands that aren’t great. At the same time, there are many non-commercial bands that are nothing short of brilliant.
The only thing that has kept such bands out of the commercial spotlight is the fact that they are devoted to their art and because they prioritize good music over business!
From Non-Commercial to Commercial and the Joy of Discovery
Last but not least, some of the greatest commercial bands today from a range of genres from rock to electronic started out on the non-commercial scene. It was only after their discovery that these bands picked up and became popular across the board.
It’s one thing listening to music that you and everyone else have heard time and time again. Stuff you’re told is good but haven’t found for yourself. Listening to non-commercial music opens you up to a world of tunes and compositions you might never have known. Better yet, you might come across the next big band and guess what – you’ll be the one who found it!
Winding Down
These three pointers are among the main reasons why no matter how much commercial music you listen to, non-commercial music and bands are something always worth appreciating. Don’t limit yourself to what the TV or radio suggest you hear. Get out there, look for fresh bands and musicians and expand that musical repertoire!
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