I find myself coming full circle in my playing and reject the ageism. I've done the blues, rock, funk, jazz, things separately. I find myself playing/writing music that would seem rather dated to the public. Classic Rock.
Last year as every year my town has free concerts in the park. It's mostly cover bands and the bands are great. I saw a young country rock act that really took the cake. She wasn't Katie Perry she was playing rock standards country standards and a few of her own songs. I couldn't remember a song of hers to save my life. But I promise you if she was doing the bar circuit she wouldn't have gotten many gigs if at all.
Also last summer I went to my sisters town where they have a huge free music festival mostly original folk singer songwriters. Those songs were very forgettable, and I was more content to walk the streets and check out the shops rather then give anyone more then a two song listen. In retrospect I may have liked a few of the songs but not loved them and If I bought a cd from the artist it would have been more as a means to support the concept of independent musicians then for the song itself.
I don't love new songs anymore. I just like em or don't and like isn't enough for me to buy them. Yet buying material is what keeps the independent artists alive then anything else.
In regards to the riaa industry. I wouldn't want to be successful I couldn't afford it.
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20100712/23482610186.shtml
I've known major players with gold records who were scrounging to feed their families. A perfect example is Joey Mazolla of Sponge. Joey had worked and now works again at a music store I've frequented for ....the last 30 years. The stories he told of what the major label did to kill the act would shock you. He makes more money going on reunion tours with other acts as a back up artists or teaching alone then he ever did when he was playing stadiums and appearing on talk shows.
Today as consumers of music we have too much selection for listening be it soundcloud, bandcamp, reverbnation and youtube then anytime in history. But people would rather spend their time on facebook then surfing for new music. And.... soundcloud, bandcamp reverbnation et all are more filled with...needy musicians in search of recognition then people actually seeking out new music to listen to.
If you want to survive making music you have to be a marketer first. Go out glad handing the public and the bar owners every day. Develop a cult around you. In many ways it's like being a con man and putting yourself aside to stroke the audience. I like people too but I can't be the used car salesman. You look great, you should really come out and see us at XXX and bring your friends. Thanks for coming out.... it's you that makes the show possible. etc etc.