Is the Audience for Pop Music Created By the Music Industry?

The music industry what Swiss describes as the "specific industrial structure of production, distribution and sale," that revolves around pop music.

 

The music industry is the group that decides which artists get recording contracts, for how much, and controls their style and image until their ability to sell and popularity decrease. Therefore deciding who the audience actually listens or gains access too.  By selling and promoting certain music and a ‘market for popular music recordings,’ the industry essentially creates it’s own audience.

 

Often, people working within the music press and those working in the 'industry' promoting artists crossover, causing a conflict of interests over promoting what they are actually selling. Similarly audiences depend on the industry for 'access to music.'

 

However, do people really just find music because the industry says it’s popular, or do people stick with genres and artists they like regardless of popularity or promotion?