I find this kind of thinking rather disconcerting—misleading even.  Yesterday, I stumbled across a story in my Google Alerts titled, “Would Beatles make it in today's music world?”  Normally, I greet such questions with murmured swear words, because of all the things that are important in the public discourse surrounding the record and music industries at the moment; this feels like the last question that we should fretting over.  But, I guess choice and cultural theory just isn't for everyone. 

Yes, the Beetles are very important cultural icons, whom are one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music.  But, are they really the only measuring stick we can use?  I understand that the angle of the story may have less to do with trying to answer the grand question as much as it was a safe perspective to write about the plight of the record industry in the digital age from, but still. 

When Michael Jackson died, similar questions were asked.  Was MJ the last remaining global pop star? Is this the end of the blockbuster era?  In the current chaos that is the climate of the cultural industries in general, I’m happy to report that the conclusion of the piece asserts that yes, talent trumps all and the Beatles could’ve “theoretically” made it today. 

Where art thou Nathan Harden?  I guess, just maybe, that the wired generation didn’t kill rock n’ rock - good riddance, someone else agrees. - Kyle Bylin