Part 3/12:

• Decentralization and Market Shifts: While a diverse array of artists still create heartfelt music, major labels and streaming platforms prioritize pop and rap, marginalizing alternative, indie, and heartfelt singer-songwriter genres. Large labels tend to promote music that fits commercial molds, leaving emotionally honest songs outside the mainstream spotlight.

• Cultural Cynicism and Online Culture: The internet has fostered a climate where emotional vulnerability is often viewed as cringe or “try-hard.” Instead, snark and sarcasm dominate social discourse, discouraging genuine expressions of feeling. As one commenter notes, society now “lives online,” where authenticity is often mistaken for vulnerability, yet true openness is rare.