Although I agree, to a degree, with what you are saying, it really is to early to start sounding the death knell of “conventional” sources of music.

Satellite and internet radio, streaming audio and video, all of the new technology that is being developed, all contribute to making it easier for an independent (unsigned) artist to get their stuff heard and seen; however, how many of these Indi’s will ever be as well recognized as Garth Brooks, Celine Dion, Avril Lavigne, U2, etc. These channels of delivery still account for only a small percentage of the media being delivered to the listening and watching public. The numbers are shifting, no doubt, but it’s still main stream media that brings the “Super Stars” into our lives. Eventually some of the artists on SonicBids will be recognized as the power houses that they are and be signed to contracts with major labels, then rocketed to “instant” fame and glory. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case for most Indi’s. We who write, sing and play tend to be in love with what we do, and so naturally we think, and often expect, other people to feel the same way we feel. The true test of how good any of us are, not how talented we are *, is in the tastes of the public that is evaluating our art form.
I’m not advocating “writing for the masses”, but it will be the masses that determine your financial level of success as an artist. Follow your muse where ever it leads you. Present your stuff at every opportunity. Keep hope alive while trying to be realistic about your expectations. If you or I have what it takes then as the saying goes,”When the flower blooms, the bees come unbidden.”

* Einstein was so talented in his art form that less than 1% of the people that were interested in what he was doing, could understand or appreciate it. They couldn’t even postulate on whether he was “good or bad” at the time.
Michelangelo’s talent; on the other hand, reaches from the most sophisticated of tastes down to the most common observer and excites their emotions equally.
Michelangelo is a super star, they’re both unparalleled geniuses

Hi Kurt:

I have to agree with Panos. Radio is “dying” and the internet is making the “underground” scene lift to a new level of stage where the young public is getting identified with.
I will give you and example of two bands, not conventional, who after few years of creating music, are rising on these very important scene brought up by the Internet Radio: Gogol Bordello and Monotonix.

Gogol Bordello is originally from NYC and they got to were they are as the actual band in about 4 years, thjanks to MySpace promotion, podcasting and so on. The music is crazy; they have a self proclaimed style: Gypsy Punk, and in everty one of their shows, the ones I have been in, it is total mayhem. They concerts are always packed, and their target is incredibly diverse. Monotonix is the same case.

We have tried so hard to get our music on the radio and we just gave up since they proclaim themselve to support local bands and they don’t do that, and instead got to podcast in local Universities and the response have been spectacular.

Times are changing, and the corporate people are old school. If Radio does not change, radio will expire.