Music fans aren't what they used to be

Census data points out some trends that make it harder to reach appreciative live music audiences.

Younger generations have lives that involve staying home alone, cruising the internet, and dreaming of becoming rich. Bonding with other people at a music event, or any event for that matter, is not as important to them as to, say, The Woodstock generation.

As someone who still believes in the importance of musicians as artists and who wants to see at least a few of them being able to devote their lives to music, it's a challenge for me to come up with ideas.

Who Americans Are and What They Do, in Census Data - New York Times

"'... over the last hundred years, technology has privatized our leisure time,' said Robert D. Putnam, a public policy professor at Harvard and author of 'Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.'

“'The distinctive effect of technology has been to enable us to get entertainment and information while remaining entirely alone,' Mr. Putnam said. 'That is from many points of view very efficient. I also think it’s fundamentally bad because the lack of social contact, the social isolation means that we don’t share information and values and outlook that we should.'

"...a shift in what college freshmen described as their primary personal objectives. In 1970, 79 percent said their goal was developing a meaningful philosophy of life. By 2005, 75 percent said their primary objective was to be financially very well off."

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