MTV is just one reason popular music has become worse and worse. There are fewer major record (can I still say 'record'?) companies than there were ten years ago. Not surprisingly, fewer music companies mean fewer music options. Some investors purchased the Warner Music Group a few months back. They consolidated the operations of Elektra, Atlantic, and Lava Records. They laid off more than 1,000 people. Now, they plan on cutting 80 or so acts from their roster. Rumored to be on the chopping block are some cool bands, including The Breeders and Third Eye Blind. Worse still, Warner has no plans to stop releasing the records of that talentless hag Madonna.

Video killed the radio star. Corporate behemoths hammered the nail in his coffin.