Popular Music and the world of influence...

Ok.. I like pop music a lot. I like rock music a lot. But here's the question. I don't really listen to the radio much and definitely don't watch MTV or VH1 (even when they are playing videos!!).... so how do record labels and artists influence me? I guess mostly word of mouth. Places like Mog-ville are gonna get me in trouble with the old credit card on iTunes... Every mog I visit, I see something I don't recognize. Therefore I have to listen. The same with Billboard charts... I want to know what's popular and even more so I want to know why!!! The answer of "why" will 90% of the time not get answered. I'll leave it to my opinion that most people in America are chewing Frosted Flakes while listening to music, making it all sound the same. {crunch...ccccrrrruunchhhh.... crunch.... ccccrrrrruuuunccccch} See the Barry Manilow albums sounds just as good U2's Joshua Tree album. Hmmm... did I just openly dis Barry? Sorry... search my collection I'm sure he's in there somewhere.{Edited Note: After publicly dissing the wonderful Mr. Manilow, a great re-run of Will & Grace's comes on... and which one.. of course the one with the "Fanilows". So to all you Fanilows, I apologize. Please enjoy Barry w/out the Frosted Flakes.)So here's a big thanks to those of you sharing with the rest of us...Rock. On.