Just as I came on to this site, Magic FM began to play ELO "Sweet Talking Woman". I immediately thought of the current offerings from the majors and realised that few of the new signings even come close to this quality. Mika has more sparkle than most, but he's still got a long way to go to match the old masters.

Then I think of all the unsigned acts which I continue to discover via the internet, and the wealth of talent which is ignored by the majors.

I'm not sure what my conclusion is, but it left me wondering about the state of the 'official' music scene.

that's the Cat, there is no "official" music scene...the rule book it out of the window.

You'll notice I restrained myself from "the cat's out of the bag"?

You might notice I put 'official' in inverted commas, meaning the part of the music scene which is recognised by the mainstream media.

And I will add to Big End's comment - that it the truly remarkable and exciting thing about this brave but frightening new world.

The hugely underestimated Jeff Lynne (just relisten to the Travelling Wilburys) was a marvellous creative talent - the next Jeff Lynne will emerge and we are more likely to discover him/her/them on this board than anywhere in the mainstream media.

They will not make nearly the money we made but we never came into it for the cash though it was nice when it arrived unbidden.

We did it for the thrill.

I listen to much ELO and wonder at how superb it still sounds.

By the way if you've never heard my version of I Can't Get It Out Of My Head do Search on You Tube - it's one of my few recordings I am really happy with; I believe it gives a whole new and different quality to the song (like Nina Simone and Marlene Dietrich did to my Moon). It's No9 on Listen Here if you don't want to leave the site.

Here's another depressing thought. I had lunch with a director of corporate events today, the type of guy that puts together congresses and product launches in exotic locations with fat budgets. He is totally, totally passionate about music. None of the acts that he uses are bands in the sense we understand it. They are massively talented hard-working singers and musicians that bring more inventiveness to the stage than artists that go through the route of recording, releasing and being hip, etc.

Put bluntly, most recording artists just don't cut it - both in professional and artistic terms. These are his words rather than mine. And I must admit that I find the unconventional acts far more interesting than 95% of the rock and "urban" acts I see in the press and on TV. Maybe it's age, but how can I get excited by Duffy when I still remember Carmel, Vaya Con Dios and actually sat beside Carla Thomas when she sang in studio once?

When people that use and pay handsomely for music actually look outside the record industry for music you know something must be seriously amiss.

with all respect Michael, that's the whole and exciting point. There is a whole scene developing outside the mainstream with true talent and fresh ideas. It's starting to attract people...with money from what you say.