we have always had singer/songwriters....if we are going to have songs, we NEED someone to make songs. However, 100, 200, 300 years ago, they didn't have press agents, MP3s, demo CDs, TV programs, etc. They had to sing them, let them be RE-sung by others who liked them, and the good ones...and a 'few' of the bad ones were remembered and passed on. Almost NO one made a living writing & singing the songs that now make up a large part of the database.

Now, however, there are $$$$ to be made, or at least a bit of ego to be stroked by turning out volume and turning it over to the publicity machines! And why shouldn't theY? There is NO law against writing and singing songs you like...I only object to what they call it...*smile*...

I DO hope that the good songwriters get heard, whether or not they conform to my 'tastes'...and that the BAD ones learn as gently as possible that they perhaps don't have the muse.