My issue is that the music industry "machine" of which Taylor is an integral cog, plays a part in guiding the public's taste. And the public's taste has deteriorated in the last 2-3 decades. Melodic variety, texture, and other qualities are all simplified in modern pop compared to pop from the 70s and 80s. There's a study on it I'll try to find later. Anyway, it's harder than ever for a quality indie band to make it mainstream, meanwhile we're spoon fed more and more musical pablum like Taylor Swift all the time.
My issue is that the music industry "machine" of which Taylor is an integral cog, plays a part in guiding the public's taste. And the public's taste has deteriorated in the last 2-3 decades. Melodic variety, texture, and other qualities are all simplified in modern pop compared to pop from the 70s and 80s. There's a study on it I'll try to find later. Anyway, it's harder than ever for a quality indie band to make it mainstream, meanwhile we're spoon fed more and more musical pablum like Taylor Swift all the time.
As the timeless refrain goes, “I liked R.E.M. before they were cool.”