The American musical audience, through no fault of their own, continues to be “dumbed down” by record companies who primarily seek profit and often substitute quality for popularity and financial gain. For them, it’s about dollars and cents. I’m not condoning their “often lack of integrity in artistry”, but I understand it; there’s investors, shareholders for public record companies, and the realities of business and the need to stay profitable. But let me be clear, the American musical audience is not dumb, it’s just that they are continually fed lots of commercial garbage! The American music audience, as has always been the case, is not exposed to the variety of sophisticated music that exists out there, such as progressive rock. Today, with the advent of social media, the exposure dilemma is changing; and for the better! Is it any wonder that many of history’s greatest progressive rock bands come from Europe! It’s going to take the artists, and independent labels with higher goals and artistic integrity, to continue to find ways to reach and build their audience and in so doing keep the progressive rock genre alive and kicking; and maybe one day, out there in the mainstream of American music.