Ive always had an issue with radio stations. They never play anyones music unless its status quo or the latest direction the music industry decided music was going to take. For example Disco, New Wave, Candy little girl "metal", Grunge, Rap, ect. ect ect. Sure there are good examples of all kinds (did I just say that ?) Seriously though, how many great songs by honest artists got beat to death on the radio until even die hard fans nearly hated them. My oldest example is "Stairway to Heaven". Nobody really like Led Zeppelin when I was listening to them. I had the grooves wore out on the IV LP long before Stairway to Heaven or Blackdog got airplay. 2 years later they were both played to death and everyone was all up in a Led Zeppelin frency .... anyhow I think this may be somewhat what the one poster was talking about. Its highly unlike that a progressive band would ever become a mainstream sound, however. Prog is for deep thinkers that like to be entertained by musical masterbation ..... yea that what most call it ... so I guess Im into self gratification. Paint me a large picture, take me on a voyage and Im happy.
On the other side for example, our local "Edge" station didnt advertise the Sym X concert till two weeks before it came and not once did I hear any music ....... ever ....... played by Sym X on their station. Yet they were there, waving their banner and so full of themselves that they brought us Symphony X ........ "who" says the field of sheep. Wonder if this is why the crowd was ... just guessing ... 200 people.
So I believe radio stations should give more abstract bands some air time and the "in" bands a little less. This would broaden the horizons of the average listener a bit and save the pop bands from being beat to death.
Being into Fates Warning, Savatage and Dream Theater for many years I felt like an ass when I discoverd Sym X over 5 years into their career, thanks to the internet. Actually during most of the 90's I thought good intence music had died, all due to the radio and falling out of the loop.