Once upon a time, when there was always an expectation of 'the next big thing', all you had to do was be there. It happened about every 6 years.
Then someone cheated and invented it. Once that was realised, there never really was any next big thing anymore.
Well there have been candidates, but they were unable to flourish, because everything concerning the media has become so fragmented since then.
Its a shame too, because 'the endless stream of sh*t' referred to by David Crosby (this was exemplified by 'White Xmas' in his example) is certainly back with a vengeance today and the time is ripe for something *real.
*not contrived or straightjacketed. But fame by this means seems to be a byproduct of what you do; not an objective in itself.
If I'm honest, wishing for fame seems to be what x factor is for. Why not just apply?