Compression. Absolutely vital for recorded music intended for mass consumption. Listening to Beyonce's latest release through earbuds or while driving would be tedious without it. Listening to background music at a party or while doing housework is actually enhanced by compression.
When I sit down to listen to music, it is generally not going to be pop music. I mostly listen to jazz and classical, which usually doesn't seem to suffer from heavy compression. Most of the rock and alternative music I listen to is delightfully free of excessive compression. This is not the material that is going to be consumed by the average casual listener, so the material is mastered for a more critical audience. I do seek out better recordings when possible. For example, I have some recent Grateful Dead releases that are substantially less compressed than my old CDs, and listening to them is a revelation. But for the most part, especially considering what I listen to and how I listen to it, compression is not that big of a problem for me.
When I sit down to listen to music, it is generally not going to be pop music. I mostly listen to jazz and classical, which usually doesn't seem to suffer from heavy compression. Most of the rock and alternative music I listen to is delightfully free of excessive compression. This is not the material that is going to be consumed by the average casual listener, so the material is mastered for a more critical audience. I do seek out better recordings when possible. For example, I have some recent Grateful Dead releases that are substantially less compressed than my old CDs, and listening to them is a revelation. But for the most part, especially considering what I listen to and how I listen to it, compression is not that big of a problem for me.