"The music industry makes music for people who don't like music."
~Ian Mackaye of Dischord Records

I've been thinking a lot lately about the D.I.Y. (do it yourself) lifestyle. I realize more and more that it's something I really support and believe in. The D.I.Y. lifestyle is deeply rooted in music. I'm beginning to believe more everyday that music produced by the mainstream does not qualify as being worthwhile.
The mainstream is a machine, an assembly line. Music is packaged, stamped, & shipped out to be consumed by the masses (just like meat, but that's another story). The artists who create mainstream music are robots in the machine and have little control over the music they make. They do not make music for music's sake, they make it for the sake of finances.
This creates a problem for people who claim to like music, but purchase mainstream music. I think if these people understood how the music is made, they would not support it. If one really likes music, why spend money on sub-par artists or bands that are ultimately only out to take your money?
Legitimate music is made by people who do not get their main income from their music. When one gets his/her main income from making music, the music is polluted. Somewhere along the line musical quality will be compromised for a dollar. A person who truly wants to produce good music will avoid this for the music's sake. When your music makes your money, it creates pressure to pay bills. Sometimes paying the bills takes priority over making quality music. This is why those passionate about music should avoid it being their bread. You'll end up in a bad spot.
Making music has nothing to do with what you wear or look like. Making music has to do with what you believe. That's why mainstream music sucks. The artists believe in money. And money only ruins good things.
This doesn't mean that mainstream music sounds bad, it actually sounds great because of all the money involved. It's the motivation behind it that makes it lousy. There are some major label artists that I enjoy. But that's because they sound good, not because of what they believe. I think music should be based in what one believes.