Trance Music in the U.S?

Have you heard of Trance music? Sadly, if you live in the United States the answer is likely to be no or if you have it conjurer up negative images. This genre of music is quite popular in other parts of the world, particularly Europe. It has been growing here in the U.S. but not by the leaps and bounds you would expect. It seems a bit suspicious to some. In the US Trance has received a lot of negative press as the music of Raves and drugs. Of course, no Rock bands have ever been linked to drug use or its members been in rehab. So if this music is no more "evil" than any other then why the lack of growth? There are those in the music industry who would not want a new genre in the offerings. These would be the big music companies and the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). Ninty percent of the music distribution in the US is controlled by four companies, Universal Music, EMI, Sony BMG Entertainment and Warner Music. These four companies in conjunction with the RIAA, as their enforcers, have incredible control of the American music market. How does this affect Trance? Since many of the Trance artists are from other countries where the arm (and fist) of the RIAA does not have as much power it comes down to control. The big music companies control the artists, the distribution, and the copyrights, almost everything. Big music companies are out for profit, plain and simple. If any artistic merit comes to the surface it's a side effect and ok as long as it doesn't bother profits. Many of the executives in these huge companies need to maintain the status quo. Their power and profit is in distribution and they will do what ever they can to make sure it stays that way, no matter how much the world changes around them. Now if most Trance artists are from other countries then they have their own governing laws and usually more artistic freedoms and control of their music. The RIAA and "Big Music" don't have as much leverage. Should an artist decide to release his music on MP3 or some other form of digital media and actually create is own marketing and distribution channels it could undermine "Big Music" in a serious way. The music industry has been fighting this for years and spending fortunes. If you can produce and distribute your own music then what do you need them for? I believe this, more than anything else, is the reason Trance has been suppressed in the USA. As this is my opinion, you might disagree but I think if you look into some of the facts you will likely agree with me.