At least he was very aware of the fucking problem. He spent much of his time mocking himself and the so-called "alternative" movement for selling out. Back then, there was still a noticeable, if fragile, line between pop and alternative. Sure, plenty of “indie” bands were already signed to major labels and burning money on marketing campaigns, everybody was talking about that even back then, but at least their message and sonic experimentation still set them apart from the flat, ultra-corporate pop machine cranked out by a dozen songwriters and an army of producers
Then came the millennials and older zoomers, proudly embracing poptimism and just accepting capitalism and consumerism. Suddenly, anyone who questioned the sanctity of pop stars was smeared as a hater, a chud, or an incel
>You don't like this industry plant?? urr you're a chud have sex lsoer!
The narrative flipped: artists who functioned more like Fortune 500 brands than musicians were hailed as rebels, simply for flying an LGBTQ+ flag (with the full blessing of the very corporations they supposedly stood against). It was a textbook Trojan horse: social causes as camouflage, and millennials opening their mouths wide so the industry could spoon-feed them corporate rebellion.
Now, the line between indie and mainstream has completely evaporated. The only “alternative” movements are digital mirages, flaring up online and dying just as quickly.
now zoomers, as a result, are largely starved of an authentic musical experience. And yet, there’s an attempt to resurrect something real. Many are actively ignoring the millennial era, heading out to the streets, playing and enjoying live music. Ironically, zoomies connect more naturally with Gen X’s restless spirit than with the boomers or the very millennials who helped flatten the landscape in the first place