Originally Posted by The Sane Psycho

Mainly quality of artists. I mean, Nirvana, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Tad, Sunny Day Real Estate, Codeine, Sebadoh, The Shins, The Thermals, Love Battery, The Afghan Wigs, Green River, etc.

They were also massively influential on Alternative music due to the early Grunge bands being signed to the label.

But they weren't just Grunge. Even today, they're putting out some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful independent music of today.