The survival of the fittest.

I think the OP may be overlooking what @mapman suggested about good speaker manufacturers chugging along despite a lack of major marketing. Ohm, Decware, Spatial, Reference 3A, and other small manufacturerers have lasted for decades because of loyal fan bases for well made products. Marketing has nothing to do with it. 

@kenjit

Are you just a troll? This is absurd.

It's all marketing obviously. What else is there? There are no measurements to prove performance so it's all just word of mouth and reviews. Do not buy high end speakers.

@simao  that's true for established brands like Ohm, but for less known companies it can be a killer, especially when lack of marketing is combined with lack of dealerships.  My fantastic Hyperion HPS-938 speakers introduced in 2004, had many rewards, including Absolute Sound speaker of the year (many years in a row) and speaker of the decade.  Glowing reviews by other reviewers and great sales initially (after audio show), but they had zero marketing and only 3 dealerships in whole US.  They ended in bankruptcy in spite of wonderful products.

I agree strongly with kenjit and millercarbon. Where marketing power, familiar brand name, and affordability come into play, the masses will spend lesser dollars and afford those companies with larger profits. It's a numbers game. When it comes to audio (speakers) it's a matter of taste and pocketbook.

Example....Long ago I traveled down the Bose path. The speakers sounded good to me but, foolishly, I believed that the higher cost would yield better sound. In those days there weren't many dealers that offered good listening rooms and lots of different choices. My wake up gradually came by just listening to systems of friends and acquaintances that included speakers below the cost of Bose. That finalized my then, and now, opinion that Bose is mediocre/over priced equipment.

Dreams. Passion. Risk. Consistency.