Love the Beatles. Always have. Can't say they are the reason that modern music exists any more than I could credit Carroll Shelby with being the reason that modern cars exist. Both were influential in the evolution of their crafts but I am pretty sure that if neither had existed there would still be modern music on my car stereo.
Are the Beatles the reason why modern music exists
I believe that the Beatles are the reason why modern music exists. The album that ushered in modern music was "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". Although I consider it maybe their 4th best album, this is the one(One person said it was the Rolling Stones, but do you remember what their equivalent album was? It was called "Satanic Majik Mysteries", or some such{you had to be there}.) It definitely wasn't Elvis. Although good, Elvis was not the innovation that allowed modern music. One interesting thing is to ask youngsters what the Beatles' "White Album" is.