Fdemtrio,

The lines between the writer and artist, started blurring in the 60's with the Beatles. After they came on the scene, the pure songwriter, pretty much dissapeared in lieu of the writer as the artist. That has continued since then, and country has been the last format to fall. For better or worse it is what it is. WE are in the "everybody can and does do it now." and you are correct about the standards and expectations now are all out the window. We are mostly in the era of "celebrity and personality" instead of song. But that doesn't mean we need to write to the lowest common denominator. For our own efforts, we all need to attempt to write the best we can.

Just because it might limit our opportunities, it doesn't mean we don't try and stand up to the opportunities we do get.

MAB