Some analysts reckon that entire populations might become happier and wiser once they have access to thousands of documentaries, independent films and sub-genres of every kind of music, instead of being subjected to what Mr Anderson calls the tyranny of lowest-common-denominator fare.

ECONOMIST: What the long tail will do

Every few weeks on All Things Considered we check in with our audience to find out what kind of music they're listening to.

NPR: Kevin Roe, Curator of Mollusks