It also has to do with cultural and social boundaries. Every time a new "genre" came (no odd new music genre came since long ago AFAIK) it was felt. Every time a new medium (from radio to LP, Video Clips, CD) came it was felt. The odd part is that the web didn't recreate that. I feel this generation is diluted by too large market, too much technology, not enough structural pressure (limited places and market means competition, not always bad even with the drawbacks) and maybe the shadow of the past media hysteria around multimillion albums artists.