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Alternative
Genre

Alternative

About Alternative

Music Facts: Alternative

  • Alternative rock was born from the indie underground in the 1970s and reached mainstream popularity in the 1990s. 

  • Today, alternative has evolved beyond its guitar-driven roots to a sound that encompasses many genres, such as pop, rock, rap, and Latin. 

  • Recent alternative GRAMMY winners include Fiona Apple, Vampire Weekend and Beck. 

Grammy Awards for Alternative

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Songs Of A Lost World. Cure

  • Best Alternative Music Performance

    Alone. Cure

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    All Born Screaming. St. Vincent

  • Best Alternative Music Performance

    Flea. St. Vincent

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    The Record. boygenius

  • Best Alternative Music Performance

    This Is Why. Paramore

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Wet Leg. Wet Leg

  • Best Alternative Music Performance

    Chaise Longue. Wet Leg

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Daddy's Home. St. Vincent

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Fetch The Bolt Cutters. Fiona Apple

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Father Of The Bride. Vampire Weekend

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Colors. Beck

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Sleep Well Beast. The National

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Blackstar. David Bowie

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Sound & Color. Alabama Shakes

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    St. Vincent. St. Vincent

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Modern Vampires Of The City. Vampire Weekend

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Making Mirrors. Gotye

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Bon Iver. Bon Iver

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Brothers. The Black Keys

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Phoenix

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    In Rainbows. Radiohead

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Icky Thump. White Stripes

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    St. Elsewhere. Gnarls Barkley

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Get Behind Me Satan. White Stripes

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    A Ghost Is Born. Wilco

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Elephant. White Stripes

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    A Rush Of Blood To The Head. Coldplay

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Parachutes. Coldplay

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Kid A. Radiohead

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Mutations. Beck

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Hello Nasty. Beastie Boys

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Ok Computer. Radiohead

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Odelay. Beck

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    MTV Unplugged In New York. Nirvana

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Dookie. Green Day

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Zooropa. U2

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Bone Machine. Tom Waits

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    Out Of Time. R.E.M.

  • Best Alternative Music Album

    I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. Sinéad O'Connor

Previous Winners

Songs Of A Lost World

Cure

Alone

Cure

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Alternative News

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6 Ways The Grammy Organization Champions Music Education & Professional Development Year-Round

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9 Powerful Acceptance Speeches From The 2026 Grammys: Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga & More

Mar 1, 2026 - 01:49 am

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A graphic promoting the 2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted recordings. The graphic features a Grammy Award logo and the words Grammy Hall Of Fame Gala 2026, Friday, May 8, 2026, The Beverly Hilton, and Beverly Hills, CA in gold font on a green background.

2026 Grammy Hall Of Fame Inducted Recordings Announced: 2Pac, Alice Coltrane, Janet Jackson, Lucinda Williams, Radiohead & More

Feb 11, 2026 - 02:28 pm

joshfester

A graphic promoting the 2026 Grammys winners and nominees.

2026 Grammys: See The Full Winners & Nominees List

Feb 1, 2026 - 08:56 pm

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2026 Grammys In Memoriam Tribute To Feature Perfomances From Ms. Lauryn Hill, Post Malone, Slash & More: Honoring D’Angelo, Ozzy Osbourne, Roberta Flack & The Musical Icons We’ve Lost

Jan 28, 2026 - 08:00 pm

joshfester

Performers For 2026 Grammys Premiere Ceremony Announced: Grace Potter, Spiritbox, Trombone Shorty, Zara Larsson & More Confirmed; Darren Criss To Host

Jan 28, 2026 - 02:00 pm

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Take An Inside Look At The 2026 Grammys In A New Special Airing Jan. 30

Jan 22, 2026 - 09:30 pm

joshfester

A collage graphic featuring photos of the Best New Artist nominees at the 2026 Grammys (clockwise from top-left): Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, The Marías, SOMBR, Olivia Dean, and Lola Young. The photos are atop a bright green background

All 8 Best New Artist Nominees To Perform At The 2026 Grammys: Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR & The Marías Confirmed

Jan 21, 2026 - 02:00 pm

joshfester

The 2026 GRAMMYS take place Sunday, Feb. 1, and broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

How To Watch The 2026 GRAMMYS Live: Performers, Host, Air Date, Red Carpet, Streaming Channels & More

Dec 15, 2025 - 11:04 pm

joshfester

Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marías. Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, Lola Young in collage

2026 GRAMMYS Nominations: Best New Artist Nominees

Nov 7, 2025 - 04:07 pm

joshfester

Alternative Videos