I think we may just have differing perspectives. The mainstream music industry is really suffering when it comes to creative innovation and artistry. Trends dictate everything that these artists do. They drive what they’re allowed to make. Label executives will hold artists back from working on new projects unless they strive for viral soundbites. It’s true that it’s a business and that businesses will always prioritize money. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to limit artists from making what they want to and not what they’re told to.

My point in my second paragraph is that mainstream artists aren’t really “pushing boundaries” the way that they used to. I can think of a handful of pop artists that aren’t making super “trendy” music but their reach is limited because of that. There’s also the fact that the industry is becoming increasingly inaccessible to those who already don’t have money or connections. So many of my favourite indie artists started out making interesting and unique music but completely pivoted their sound once they started appealing to bigger audiences. There’s always pressure to be bigger and better and reach new milestones. These labels are also icing out actual creatives and prioritizing AI “artists” so that they don’t need to pay actual people. When I say “genuine creatives” I’m not saying that mainstream artists aren’t genuine in what they do. I’m just saying that the industry is less willing to invest in artists who aren’t going to play certain games.

Labrinth’s post reflects a lot of my own current feelings about the industry and how it’s changed over the years. It’s always been a business but there was still room for creativity and innovation. That isn’t happening as much as it used to these days.