Why do teens control mainstream music?

[Sally Michelle]

Hmm yeah, all I can say is that they do buy most of it. I'm 15. And I'm into Indie music, this stuff isn't mainstream! But I think it's because a lot of adults don't listen to new music, they listen to songs that were out when they were younger? And if they buy them - They're less likely to get into the chart. Stuff that has just come out should get priority in the charts. Social Networking just informs others of the music in the first place, tweeting about it isn't going to give the artists any money or place them higher in the charts - It just gives them recognition. And the recognition allows people to buy the songs because they've been told about it, and liked it. Also, teens have more time to listen to music, and are more likely to download of Itunes rather than buy an album.

[Dean Sawyer-Terry]

The charts these days are not only done by radio requests and physical CD sales, the majority of them are now done via downloads from the internet.
now this has been both a blessing and a curse. Because we get both amazing undiscovered musicians, who wouldn't have been able to afford music school, but we also get artists who are auto-tuned teen sex symbols who have never written a single sale worthy lyric in there life.