Final answer:
In the 1980s, Seattle rock bands played a local version of rock music that became known as grunge, which initially did not align with what music industry executives in Los Angeles considered marketable. However, the unique sound from the Pacific Northwest eventually attained international success, changing the industry's perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The description provided relates to the music scene of the 1980s, specifically concerning rock bands in the Seattle area and their challenges in gaining wider recognition. These bands were often confined to playing local venues for little compensation. Despite their potentially unique sound and appeal within the Pacific Northwest, their style, which evolved into what we now recognize as grunge, was at odds with what was deemed commercially viable by the music industry executives in Los Angeles. Their music was seen as a type of folk music, specific to local preferences, and not necessarily something that could break into mainstream success at that time.
It was not until later that Seattle's grunge scene broke onto the international stage, transforming the music landscape and challenging preconceived notions of what was marketable. The impact of this movement illustrated how regional variations of rock music, once ignored by the industry, could resonate with a global audience and become a cultural phenomenon.