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alternative music

noun

: music that is produced by performers who are outside the musical mainstream, that is typically regarded as more eclectic, original, or challenging than most popular music (such as conventional rock, pop, or country), and that is often distributed by independent record labels

Examples of alternative music in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Tyler himself will also grace the stage just weeks after scoring five 2026 Grammy nominations, including album of the year and best rap album with Chromakopia and best alternative music album with Don’t Tap The Glass. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 14 Nov. 2025 Elsewhere, Paramore singer Hayley Williams has four nominations, spanning rock and alternative music categories. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2025 So much of this album’s impact is a testament to the way alternative music has always thrived and created this counterculture. Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025 The next morning, in a move that helped pave the way for punk and alternative music, Fields made deals with the two bands — $20,000 for the MC5 and $5,000 for the Stooges. Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alternative music

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alternative music was in 1974

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Cite this Entry

“Alternative music.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternative%20music. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.

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