When I was a teenager in the 60s, there were at least two local radio stations playing exclusively contemporary pop/rock. For a few years each station would put out a weekly top 40 list. There was tremendous variety - Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, bubble gum, Motown, soft rock, Petula Clark, Dean Martin, Ronettes, psychedelic, novelty tunes, country cross-overs, and on and on. Now, all the radio stations seem to be oldies stations or country stations. Maybe I’m not looking hard enough, but I don’t know where current musicians are getting much air time.
You might really like this website. It hosts free streaming music of 1960s “also ran” bands that never had a hit, and often tried to imitate others with their musical style, as well as doing a lot of so-so covers. They even throw in some authentic concert commercials of the period.
It’s just fun to listen to.
http://www.beyondthebeatgeneration.com/
Yes! That carried over for a time into the seventies, and it's what I miss.