I disagree that music isn't selling because good music isn't being released anymore. Kerbdog and Whipping Boy were two great Irish acts from the nineties who released some pretty astounding songs. Did they sell? Hell no. Not in significant amounts anyway. The only reason I really know about both those bands is because they're Irish. There are plenty of examples out there I'm sure of record companies backing decent bands and not seeing any return. In my humble opinion the network is f*cked up. You used to be able to hear decent music on the radio and, yes, even on MTV. But they've shyed away from anything less than mainstream in recent years and the results speak for themselves.

Lots of great music is being released, but the stuff that gets the big promotion and investment from the major labels tends to be mediocre. EMI ended up paying Mariah Carey not to make albums... probably one of their sounder business decisions! Large record companies seem to be reducing rather than increasing their roster of artists. Its the rise of small - medium sized labels thats bringing us a lot of todays interesting (and commercially successful!) music. However I do take your point about there being little outlet in mainstream TV/Radio for new music. I'm suprised no one has hired a laywer to throw the trade description act at MTV. Unless the M no longer stands for Music? Mediocre TV?

Yeah, I know what you're saying. Part of the problem is that the market has changed. I don't know anyone who buys music based on marketing. That is to say I don't know any pre teens. Outside of them people buy what they hear (rather than what they listen to which is what the aficionado will do, actively seeking music he might like). So if all they hear on radio is the same old same old they'll only end up buying that, if anything at all.

To the best of my knowledge Danger Mouse (guy who did that Jay-Z/Beatles Grey album thing) got off the ground via the web. On the no good music being released anymore thing, I didn't mean to imply that I was just paraphrasing Yorke's reponse to the majors whining, but the bigger labels do seem to be playing it safer with their releases of "credible" music, we're living in an age where Keane and Coldplay can release albums and have them labled as "indie-rock", and I'm not just saying this because I dislike those bands. OK, I don't like Keane but I am partial to a few Coldplay songs but "indir-rock" they are not.