Floyd has it exactly right, but it is a WHOLE lot deeper and covers MUCH more than just shrinking web site attendance.

The Internet put everyone IN TO THE GAME. And took ALL the money OUT of the game. There are 30-60 million writers and artists out there, about a BILLION songs uploaded a month. Everyone is just totally consumed with THROWING things OUT THERE, without giving any thought to SHOULD IT BE OUT THERE?

The result is a huge drop off in talent, and abilities. It is like a bunch of 8th graders, just copied the latest thing they hear on the radio and do that. The songs are average to terrible, the performers are worse, if anyone can keep anyone's attention for more than 30 seconds they are doing great.

The public has all but tuned it out. They get endless music for free or almost nothing. Venues don't have to pay for anything because there are always endless people who will play for free or pay to play, because they have to.

Music is relative and what is good or bad is inconsequential. It's no longer in the forefront, it's in the background which is why no one is getting paid.

They come here to Nashville in enormous droves, about 500 a week. They get hit with reality in that there are hundreds of thousands just like them. They find out quickly that they are not as good as they think they are and the leave.

The latest thing in Nashville and coming to a town near you is venues charging people to perform. Just like social media, if you want a platform, you are going to pay for it. Places that are famous, like the Bluebird, have people lined up at 12:00 every day waiting to get in. Every show for the week sells out within 5 minutes on Monday morning.
Some people wait online for months trying to get tickets to the shows, much less performing on them. They plan their vacations around going to a show. We no longer ask "Is there anyone from out of town" when we play. WE ask "Is there anyone FROM IN TOWN?"

It's created ripples throughout this town and all over. Thirty years ago, LA started charging people to play. Forty years ago New York did it. Now it is here.

We are in the AMATUERIZATION of all entertainment. No one is studying the craft or networking, of course until it is too late, when they have already shot themselves in the foot by putting really crap up on the Internet. They have lost all people skills. Which is the most interesting thing because this business is ALL people skills.

So are the web site interest waning? You bet . And everything else is waning too. We are in an eight second attention span and it is the world of NICHEING. You find your own niche and always keep and expand that. Forget trying to be a "big star." You better ignite the world around you first.

Unfortunately, most will never realize that until it's too late and their careers are over before they start.

MAB