What country still has music?

Some of the best artists out there didn't have formal training, but I was referring to current production which might as well be what the OP has stated. I guess I was simply in agreement/but not.

Actually, it's all garbage. Gotta seriously disagree with you on this one, Mapman. Early rock was melodic. Imo, if not for the long hair, the older generations would have embraced it. Fact is, the majority did later on join the crowd. Those who say they like rap as well as those who say they like current original music seem to be constantly reconciling it's so-called attributes. The vast majority being young people exploited by big business cashing in on typical growing pains. Remember back in the seventies when the beginning of the end was starting to be forecast? Music is actually finite. At least anything worthwhile. Been there, done that.

If you widen your definition of what constitutes music to infinity, then of course it's going to continually be recognized as such but you'll be desperately searching for ways to ascribe it as a pleasing experience. U2 was on the envelope from the start imo. I do like a few of their tunes. Sweetest Thing is my fav. Best selling artist lists have nothing to do with this issue. Even if you like it, that doesn't necessarily make it music

Okay. But in keeping with what I perceive the OP's topic is, there comes a point where all variations, melodies, and especially harmonies according to what actually works, have been explored. After which "only" dissonance remains,not to be confused with Jazz. That, or what we're subjected to of late, straight monotones of higher and lower sequences or non-melodic ones. The stuff that was tossed over the shoulder hopefully into the trash when the real stuff was being written.

It clearly doesn't matter. Do you think you'd be listening to better music if it did?

Some of the best modern tunes ever done were pop. Remember Burt Bacharach, Dion Warwick,LULU, Jackie Dushannon to name a few? Scores of others without whom it would have been an entirely different landscape. No where near as fun.