小众＝非大众＝非主流，另类

niche = 利基 -（较普扁商业用语）

但在你提供的句子主要是指出那些较小，专对特殊市场或提供歌迷特殊喜好的唱片公司。



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Note added at 1 day8 hrs (2008-10-08 21:58:53 GMT) Post-grading
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I guess I don't understand the reason why 小 was chosen because small record label would have sufficed in the original text.
Niche was used to express a special kind of record label that is abundant in UK, and even ouyangzhw explanation is better. anyway, just my opinion.

niche /nɪtʃ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[nich] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, adjective, verb, niched, nich·ing.
–noun 1. an ornamental recess in a wall or the like, usually semicircular in plan and arched, as for a statue or other decorative object.
2. a place or position suitable or appropriate for a person or thing: to find one's niche in the business world.
3. a distinct segment of a market.
4. Ecology. the position or function of an organism in a community of plants and animals.
–adjective 5. pertaining to or intended for a market niche; having specific appeal: niche advertising.
–verb (used with object) 6. to place (something) in a niche.

请注意“3. a distinct segment of a market. ”。实际上niche是指“细分市场”。例如，可增高的那种鞋就是鞋类市场中细分出来的。再如，奢侈品所针对的市场就是那些对钱麻木不仁的巨富。而奢侈品市场（是一种细分市场，即niche）中的公司恐怕不一定都“小”，规模等各方面都很“大”的也有。感觉niche似乎不大适于译成“小”，否则会产生误解，以为公司规模小。但OP问题中的niche译成中文后肯定要转译成形容词，恐怕需要从“专”的角度来措辞。具体的辞我是一时措不出来啦，所以我的回答还是无法彻底解决OP的问题。希望能通过相互交流与大家共同提高翻译水平。

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Note added at 3天20小时 (2008-10-11 09:47:19 GMT) Post-grading
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不是转译，niche本来也是形容词。