[supercat]

It was killed by photography. It died during the last half of the 19th century. It is not just resting.

Modern electronic sound enhancement and reproduction has killed liver performance, until one actually goes to see a really good show.

What has changed is that there is now little need for mediocrity. It used to be that even a mediocre painter could expect to find work, since his renderings may be the best his customers can afford. Nowadays, however, if an artist can't beat the work of a cheap camera and has no ambition of doing so, there's far less value in persuing it for anything beyond personal satisfaction.

[Old Professer]

Modern electronic sound enhancement and reproduction has killed liver performance,

Hepatitis B-flat?????

[Lessismore]

Modern electronic sound enhancement and reproduction has killed live performance, until one actually goes to see a really good show.

This was true during the era of "high-fidelity stereo records". It also imposed a deadening uniformity on music.

However, it seems that the Internet and cheap digital reproduction are loosening the grip of the recording companies. MP3s on web sites and short-run CDs published by the musicians themselves are creating more interest in a wide variety of music played in clubs and small venues.