Depends on your definition of "music" I fu beleive that the stuff played on mainstream radio and television is music...well then thats ur problem right there. Once the record industry was established it was no longer abou the music it was about entertainment and money. In my opinion whats wrong with music today is what was wrong wiht music 50 years ago. The average non instrument playing person are into catchy easy to remember songs and thats what gets the air time.
Really there are hundreds if not thousands of good bands out there that write amzing original and creative material. I find the best hing to do is to not limit ur self to what the media says is music. Good music is out there u just goota know how to look/listen for it.

...and when you find them, support them! Buy the CDs and merchandise direct from the band, go to as many local shows as you can, offer to help promote them, whatever you're able to do. The best fans are the ones who help to spread the word...that there IS good music out there, and it's NOT on the radio, it's in your own city.

The problem with the music industry is just that: it's an industry. The "music" is the product, all pre-packaged and marketed for the Public's enjoyment. Thus, the "artists" are the raw materials, which must be modified from their original state for marketability. Anyone who wants to be a "big music star" must make certain concessions to realize that dream:

-they must realize that their music and artistic values are moot in the eyes of The Industry and subsequently the Public.
-they must accept what The Industry defines them as and act along to any "ideas" their superiors have.
-they must always put The Industry first and themselves last.

Case in point: Sugar Ray. I'm sure we can get a thread going with about 20 people ripping on Sugar Ray because their music is total crap. However, anyone who follow anything besides what MTV feeds them will realize that the artistic entity "Sugar Ray" died when they signed their record contract. If you do not believe this, listen to their first demo CD (should be fairly available since the Company has bought out the rights to it). The music you will hear is not the spoon-fed pop sh*t that we have learned to despise--rather, it is an honest effort in punk/alt. rock (whether or not it sounds good is entirely subjective, but at least you're not told to like it). Story goes Mark (the lead singer) wept when their first commercial single was recorded because he knew it was garbage.

So, the moral of the story is support the indie labels like DGM, Invisible, and the like. It's the only way artists can have a fighting chance.

Totally agree, there are so many manufactued "bands" these days. They all look the same and sound the same. True talent isn't recognised because it doesn't comform to what the marketing men think we, the listening public want hear.

I think it's mostly radio airplay, more than just who is signed vs. who is not. Radiohead, Jayhawks...a lot of my favorite acts are signed to major labels...but you'll NEVER hear them played on the radio. Where would they fit into the format? Someplace between "Disturbed" and "Britney Spears"?

It's like the song says, Video Killed The Radio Star. If you don't look the part you're never going to make it. Look at the bands from the 60's & 70's, many of them were not the "sex symbols" that fill the charts today. Before video it didn't matter what you looked like it was the music the mattered.

Let me state clearly that there is absolutly nothing at all wrong with music today. You must start looking in the right places. What do you expect from a corporate entity? Miles f---in Davis? No way. If you wan't to see great music you must do exactly that. Get out there and see the bands that will never get radio play. AGAIN, YOU MUST GO OUT AND SEE LIVE MUSIC. And if you loathe the way that corporate music works fine, but you are taking it much too seriously. It's just a money making game, it's not the way life or music is for that matter. Go to a music school and tell the bass teacher that you think there is something wrong with music, and he/she will tell you exactly what's right about it.

Let me state clearly that there is absolutly nothing at all wrong with music today. You must start looking in the right places. What do you expect from a corporate entity? Miles f---in Davis? No way. If you wan't to see great music you must do exactly that.

While I agree with 99% of what you say, I would like to point out that

a) Miles Davis enjoyed considerable fame and commercial success.

b) For most of his career he was signed with a major record company.

Helgi--
Thank you for pointing out what everybody obviously knows about Miles Davis. I posted that as an example that everyone can easily relate to and also to point out the fact that the art in music isn't the point when it comes from and through a corporate medium TODAY. Thank you for missing the point so that I could better illustrate mine.

i didnt know about miles davis but im stupid

Sure, Miles was signed to both the Columbia & Warner Brothers machine...BUT-
At that time, even those labels were run by some decent A&R guys(guys who actually knew music & were into music). Then the accountants came & the rest is...

On a recent note, it totally blew me away that Columbia actually gave the David S. Ware 4-tet a two-album deal. The 1st album, Go See The World was 'out there' Ware...the 2nd disc was a little more relatable(Surrendered). Anyway, Columbia didn't really advertise/promote Ware(who's 4-tet is a favourite amongst Punk Rock fans)...he's back to the indies.

Anyway, the 'real' reason I'm posting is to hip someone/anyone to a pretty happenin' outfit called The Hasidic New Wave. 'Fuse' & Fima Ephron from The Screaming Headless Torsos are in the group + two horn players & one happenin' drummer.

Hasta... ;-)

Jim- The Torso's are one of my favorite fusion bands. What's the scoop? Where can I get the record?