[phasersout]

The market is way too fractured for new artists to reach a level like ABBA or U2 or the likes anymore (with few exceptions). Modern artists seem to build their "brand" on the "1000 true fans"-idea where musicians or authors only get deals once they have a build in audience. That's the reason most artists take to social media in one way or another

Before the internet there was a handful of major music labels and a dozen music magazines for example and those made it possible for relatively few artists to build lengthy careers and people seem to love the idea to stand with 20.000 other people in a arena and listen to the same music.

I am too old to decide if todays artists have it better or worse but one thing is sure: A lot more people can live off their art today than thirty years ago. But with that goes another thought: That back in the day only the cream made it to the top and had a chance to stay there.