Personally I used find to the lower rungs of the industry pretty much clogged up with them - hogging suport slots, being awarded slots in prestigious festivals, getting favours done for favours done.

Meanwhile really competent people some who have been banging on the door for years, and have invested their lives in this music don't get a tumble. And eventually - they go off and do something else with their lives.

I can assure you that the music business is no different from many other walks of life in that respect.

I spent most of my career in the academic world. During my time I have seen a few "bright young things" climb all over anyone who got in their way bid to "make it to the top" and when they got there, they turned out to be useless. On the other hand there were a considerable number of very competent people who never made it very far, either because they were taken for granted or because their faces didn't fit or because they couldn't (wouldn't) spout the currently fashionable jargon.

There were also a number of people who did "make it" who thoroughly deserved their success.

That's life.