The music industry has changed so much since pre-internet, 90's.
Distribution and access to new artists has become completely globalised. People are by and large, far more musically literate. Think about how much music festivals, and gigs have grown in that time.
Big day out started in 1992. There are now so many more festivals, so much bigger, Australia can draw bands from all over the world and the crowd is absolutely aware of every artist and their work.
General entry to a single performance by a major artist can cost $150+, the average price of a ticket to a major gig has shot up dramatically. More gigs are being played, more are selling out, and the prices are hugely increased over what they used to be.
Smaller gig attendance is up, and the whole live music scene in Australia has been bouyant for years,
Artists can't take all the benefits of the information age and expect no downside. The music industry and artists as a whole are way better off in a post-file sharing world.