I don't always like or agree with BoB Lefsetz but I respect him a lot.
This is a very good review of 1D Day. How come NO ONE on this board mentioned it?

lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2013/11/25/1d-day/

The answer is in the piece KZ - target audience! Nobody else cares. And sadly, the industry is dying and has not been replaced by the few enthusiasts like we were/are.

You can now make millions from something with tiny, limited appeal aimed only at that audience. The good thing is - we the majority don't have to hear the NSync/Backstreet Boys/Take That/Bay City Rollers crap anymore. The bad thing is - we can't get to hear the good stuff, if there is any (there was one great 1D track about being beautiful).

Well fair enough but from an industry point of view surely it is a significant event and the fact
they pulled off great viewing figures on Youtube must be sending shockwaves throughout the industry?

On the point you raised I think you're right though. Minority hits forced on us by radio programmers.
Now will genuine hits that cross over all genres and demographics emerge? I think they can and will
but in all honesty there aren't any such songs at the moment, most are minority hits that appeal to
a small section of the population. We shall see how it develops and I am optimistic that the new world
order where the music lives or dies on its own merit and genuine hits like Gotye and Psy spread virally.
Or maybe I am being naive and ideallistic haha