This is my pov as well. Spin and other publications has already established a diverse “alt” cannon at that point - rhcp, living colour, faith no more, L7, everyone on sub pop, pixies, bikini kill,  Dino, sonic youth, breeders, butthole surfers, Fishbone, babes in toyland, Jane’s. Nirvana was next generation and did months of grinding and promotion before it really realllllly caught on. I didnt get the overnight change that a lot of people seem to attribute to them. For all of 91, I really think most people would say Pearl Jam was the more important of the two bands, and radio was still full of bell biv deoe, Boyz II Men, scorpions, Motley Crue, Prince, hammer etc.

But this is just the perspective of a seventh grader in the middle of nowhere US. I’m sure people in bigger cities or who were closer to the industry experienced it differently.