When I'm my most hopeful I speculate that the trend toward download of MP3 or worse as the only source of music will lead to a conditioning of the general public to the "glop" level of reproduced sound as a norm. Having reached that level, they will be thrilled at how much better live music sounds to them and will grab every opportunity to listen to live music. Then it will happen - as it did to us so long ago. They will seek out ways to reproduce something closer to that live sound in their homes.

Call it insane optimism if you like, it beats being depressed all the time.

OR you could take the "glass is half empty" attitude and plan on live music being made to sound like the glop that the public loves. Performers will have to add an MP-3 encoder/decoder "equalizer" to their sound systems in order to get the buying public to come to their concerts.

I wish that the Audio Press would start publicizing widely just how bad these downloads are. Unfortunately, while it's true, the Audio Press won't do it because they are afraid of getting sued. I expect that in another 20 years "high end Audio" will sound about as good at the original Edison spools because this generation will have know idea at all what music is really supposed to sound like.