The term underground music has been applied to several artistic movements, notably to the early psychedelic movement of the mid 60s centred in Los Angeles.

This movement included now-famous bands such as The Electric Prunes, Tangerine Dream, The Plastic People Of The Universe and Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, but most of its practitioners and pioneers never achieved any sort of fame. It took its name both from the basement venues in which it was played, and the small or underground record labels which released it. It had ceased to exist as a movement within the space of a few years, as its sounds and techniques were absorbed into more mainstream popular music, notably into progressive rock.

The term is also currently used to describe many modern electronic music events including for example free raves as well as many other sorts of non mainstream musical exponents with actual specific genre or style being a non-point in determining the 'underground' status.