Actually, it's unfortunate that this thread has "succeeded in making a number of people here aware of Justin Bieber for the first time in their lives", since it demonstrates how compartmentalized we have ALL become. This is sad not because we can avoid having Justin Biebers constantly paraded before us (to rephrase the original sentiment), but because the young folks get so little exposure to the vast cultural ocean which preceded them. If they listened to the best that the past eras have offered--and I don't just mean since the 1940's, which is about as far back as even the niche stations go--they might have a much better idea of what real quality is, and demand it more in their own music of choice. They might also discover that their parents aren't as musically clueless as teens like to pretend (though there is always that need to rebel, rejecting anything one's parents endorse).

I enjoy listening to old radio broadcasts from the 1930's to 1950's (before my time, I hasten to add). The musical shows included a wide variety of genres and periods, even if contemporary music predominated. Thus, it was not odd for a new pop number sung by the latest heartthrob (like Frank Sinatra) to be followed by an operatic aria or a hillbilly song--and people loved it all. You almost never get that kind of diversity nowadays. A Justin Bieber wouldn't have lasted a minute in those days because there were so many other REAL talents getting exposure in the major venues.

So yes, the industry's bieberic treatment of music a relatively new phenomenon, and has a great deal to do with the minimization of folk music.