..... I have to disagree... you were very recently the target market. You had the most disposable income, the most free time, etc. But now you on the fringe of that. Yes there are still some artists you enjoy, but, the market is not tailored to you as well as it was, it is tailored to my kids, their friends, and their babysitters. They're the ones with the time and the money to be consuming the current market, thus, due to your age, even though you're not 'old', you are no longer the target demographic.
Even when I was "The target demographic" the music industry (Music Videos/Radio/Charts) weren't generally geared for me either.... there was a balance between one type of music and another kind (Alternative/Rock/Industrial vs. Hip Hop/Pop/Emo Crap)... in the last few years, this balance has for some reason swayed more towards the Hip Hop/Pop/Emo Crap music more then ever before.
I didn't say these industries don't gear towards trends and what younger kids want/don't want.... it's always been the case since about way back as the Beatles and Elvis...... but even back when Alternative and Industrial music was the main thing (Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, TooL, Korn, etc.) ... it was all still geared to the same age group that it's aiming towards now.
But at that time, the lyrics, the sounds, the videos, concerts, etc..... they all had some effort tossed into them.... new effects and ideas in how to compose a music video were being made.... lyrics related more to the real lives in which people lived and the problems that came with.
Now we have stupid shows like American/Canadian/Australian/UK Idol, dishing out "New" artists and bands left, right and centre whom are not necessarily that great, never get decent record contracts, and usually fade off into obscurity after a couple of months after the shows are done for the season with the exception of maybe three or four who are still putting out records..... whom are still content'less piles of crap.
My comments were more related to how music eras change over time.... in that society had Disco, 80's Hair Pop and the current crap come in after a decade or so of high quality, talented, brain-thinker music...... As though the targeted audience gradually seeks something different from the previous generation, they're tired of the doom and gloom of reality and seek poppy/bubbly shallow music for a period of time one can dance to, rather then think about and reflect.
I mean when I was just hitting my teen aged years, I was into bands/music like Black Sabbath, Iron Butterfly, Led Zep, pretty much all the music my parents listened to when they were in college/university...... then I eventually got into the Alternative Rock scene of the 90's after the fact. It was interesting that I got into an older generation's music scene before I got into my own currently marketed scene.
Most of my friends have dropped off of the music scene and don't try and keep up to date with the new music or bands coming out, because they feel they're no longer "With it" anymore and things changed so much, but for me personally, I don't isolate myself with one musical era.... I isolate myself with what I like. And as mentioned before, there are a decent amount of bands/artists currently out there that are talented and make some impressive music...... but with the current direction the music industry has headed in for the time being.... the majority that's dished out in the Pop Avenues these days are complete crap that wash out the good.
The only real comment I wished to make is that yes, music in general these days is total crap.... but this trend will soon change again. To say that I'm out of the loop now due to my age wouldn't make sense if my predicted pattern becomes true and the next generation of music to take over go backs into the way I think it will.... even though I may not be the "intended age bracket" being targeted, it very well still target me, thus my age would be moot.