Taste, you say? Have you been suckered? Media was the handmaiden holding the hand. Where to? Their talents packaged estranged views. They churned love from saccharine to cynical. The were unbelievers in love,looking for a lost peace.
Like I say, carp all you want. As a historian I’m telling you that the second half of the 20th century musically IS the Beatles. And if you go by who is “saved” or “lost,” I’m afraid you just cut out 90% of those classical musicians that you think are “good” music.
The culture has gone into the gutter in 100 years, when some pop group playing three chord disposable candy is considered the central monument of it. From Scott Joplin, and sheet music sold to people to played instruments at home, to mass produced silly tunes with kindergarten lyrics about holding hands.
At least, we still have the likes of Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and Yo Yo Ma (among others unknown to the Beatlemaniac “musicologists”) for the non-philistines.