re: When would you say the initial decline in music began?

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Music has always had its peaks and valleys.

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No it hasn't.

There is always always always great music being made. Saying "music has its peaks and valleys" is akin to saying" the overall talent level in colllege football has peaks and valleys". No. They aren't gonna stop making musically talented people, just like they aren't gonna stop making 250 lb dudes who can run a 4.6. If you think there is any not-insignificant time period where awesome music wasn't being made, that just means you weren't listening to much music.