The death of High Fidelity?

I don't think High Fidelity is dead. I think music (and recordings in general) have been "Walmartized" a fair bit.

Every artist I know cares about the end result of their music in recordings. Every music engineer and technician I've ever met cares very deeply about how well the end product sounds.

Yes, we have lots of folks "aiming down" for best-fit to digital devices, quicker download times, and smaller speakers/cheaper headsets. Yes, we have suits telling the R&D end of music/recording production to "crank it up." Yes, there are folks who don't have the "ear" to tell the difference between a 128K sampling of a tune vs. pure uncompressed analog, uncompressed digital, or any other high-end source - not everyone listens to $5K sound systems, has $500 headphones, or even knows that high-end devices exist.

Here's what I say: Make great recordings of great sounds. Produce them with care and polish them enough to make them pleasing. Leave the original stuff to hi-fi quality. If you're making ringtones or low-quality MP3s, mark them as such.

Don't forget: The listener is always right. All of them.

I miss them

I miss minds and souls like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

I am, however, glad that there are so many independents out there making their music and sharing it with the world.

Right now, it seems as though Disco is returning (not literally, but effectively - with the resurgence of paid-for-pop).

Listen to people that aren't played 100 times an hour on pop radio. Listen to alternative radio (internet or radio waves. Seek out new music. Enjoy local performances.