[gpsx]

I think one reason for a change in music could be the "downfall" of record labels as a big driver in the music industry. You can blame them for taking a big cut away from the artists, but the whole industry did a lot for developing the music. I had thought about this more from a perspecitve of the use of very talented studio musicions to help bands, but it may have impact on writing too. Of course, even if that was an effect on quality of music in any way, I think people have much bette access to music now than ever before. I couldn't afford to buy records or cds back when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s.

[willis936]

From these set of facts it seems more like the thing lost is curation. People have more freedom and choice now so the top 40 are more representative of what more people want to listen to.

More complex music is still around. We didn't have polyrhythms in the 80s and genres of math rock, prog, and funk are thriving. They're just not top 40.

[airstrike]

More likely correlation than causation, IMHO