[Rick and Roll]

I'm not so sure it's not just as simple as there are more choices now.

I agree wholeheartedly about commercialism, etc. But too much blame is placed there. It doesn't matter what the product is, if the money is there someone will promote it.

To me, progressive music is more than a hobby. It's intense. And the average person cannot invest the time in that. So they look for the simple, the easy. People are busy. I don't think it's any great mystery.

A band like IQ is not a going concern. They are not a band that stays together. Most of their later work is recorded separately. So to expect sustained success is unrealistic. Marillion does well enough on their own. So did (does) Yes, etc.

Most bands are not making tons of money, even the commercial ones. There are as many commercial bands struggling as prog bands. really, how many really popular bands are there?

One thing that bodes well, is that there is a return back to basics with prog. Prog changed as all music did with bands like REM, etc that completely did away with guitar leads and any long songs. So prog tried to incorporate whatever flavor of the month to compensate. Recently, I've heard a ton of bands that sound like the 70's greats, with an updated sound. It's refreshing.

Finally, I think prog is rid of it's "snob mentality" (rightly or wrongly). I don't think I've heard the word "eclectic" at all in the last two years...that means Prog is infiltrating the airwaves.

Radio will always be the popular, the short-term. I see no reason to worry about Prog not being there.