In the case of the local pubs, they don't seem to be attracting an audience at all. As for why they are hired..my guess would be that the pub maangement is under the impression that louder is better. I don't quite follow the Berra analogy as the Pub is seldom crowded and many folks here abouts don"t go simply because they have no wish to be blown out of the room. The result usually is that there is no music much in the pub anymore.