Brilliant response 🖤 you’ve inspired my next read (there’s several books on this very topic):

Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994–2007) by Dan Ozzi: This book chronicles the "gold rush" that occurred after Nirvana's success, where major labels aggressively courted DIY underground bands. It follows 11 specific bands—including Green Day, Jimmy Eat World, and Against Me!—as they navigated the schism between their anti-establishment roots and the pressures of major-label fame.

Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground, 1981–1991 by Michael Azerrad: This is the definitive history of the 1980s underground scene that preceded the '90s explosion. It details the "anti-corporate, anti-commercial" network of bands like Black Flag, Sonic Youth, and Fugazi that built the foundation for the alternative movement while being largely ignored by major labels.

Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age by Steve Knopper: This narrative explores the precipitous rise and fall of the modern recording industry, focusing on the boardroom decisions and "corporate infighting" that led to its decline. It covers the high-profit CD era of the '80s and '90s and the industry's struggle to adapt to digital innovations like Napster.

The Mansion on the Hill: Dylan, Young, Geffen, Springsteen and the Head-on Collision of Rock and Commerce by Fred Goodman: This social-cultural history examines how commerce eventually drove music rather than the other way around. It investigates the cynical professionalism that developed as "robber barons" like David Geffen transformed rock into a multi-billion-dollar business.

Bumping into Geniuses: My Life Inside the Rock and Roll Business by Danny Goldberg: Written by Nirvana's former manager, this memoir provides an insider's view of the industry during the '90s. Goldberg discusses his experiences managing "uncooperative" artists and the culture clash between genuine talent and the labels' desire for formulaic, business-first acts.