what is the difference between good and bad music

Musicslug,

Regarding:

Albert: if you are open to Stockhausen, you might try to get your hands on Kim Cascone's 'Blue Cube' or 'Cathode Flower' - very cool computer-generated music by an associate of Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks) or Jon Wall's 'Fractuur' or 'Alterstill' - music constructed of samples of 20th century composers (which doesn't sound sampled at all; it sounds composed and seamless)

I've added those to my list of musical considerations, thank you.

Mrt, from what you say , seems foolish that some japenese investment group would pay something like $60M for a Van Gogh.
If its all subjective, then to some a Van Gogh is worthless, wouldn't pay a penny for one, yet to another its priceless.
As you say its all subjective.
Nice Day
:-)

I recall yrs ago, a friend told me that Miami Sound machine, as Gloria Estafan 's group was called, that this group was going to be a big hit. At the time they only had a few songs out on spanish radio in Miami.
If anyone had seen Shakira in her early teens performing, the word was, "she's got talent and going big time", as she has. I happen to like Shakira's Dirty laundry cd. Few compare to this gal. Beats maddon's later stuff for sure.
Maddona is abit noisey, alot of show effects.
Recall Sinead O'Conner's song Nothing Compare To You. I thought what a lousey song this is...goes to the top of the charts. I now like the song, and can see how it went to the top.

I have a feeling/a hunch lets say, that Blessed Yes will make a success in some area of the diverse pop forum.
So as you see taste is not pure subjective, otherwise no one would agree on anything.
Depends on sociological, psychological factors what appeals to US, what WE feel repeled by.
US/WE, ie some group with a common link.

bartokfan, don't confuse an investment with quality. the fact that an object will sell for a large sum of money is no indication of its quality.

there is no logical relationship between price and quality. isn't that what most of us believe with respect to audio components ?? it's no different in art, or any other commercial endeavor.

how about the price of a stock. are expensive stocks "better" companies than "cheap" stocks, from the standpoint of any financial criteria ?

don't confuse popularity with quality. the fact that a lot of people eat at a restaurant or go to a movie or nominate it for an award does not indicate quality or lack thereof. you are doing an excellent job of making my case. it is subjective and people do disagree. those who don't like the music of a popular artist obviously disagree with those buy the recordings.

again, logic wins.