The worst example of this is the new Britney Spears record. It's a damn good album, at least half of the tracks being top notch dance/pop music. I mean, it's above average. I hate myself for liking it, but what can I do?
There are other pop artists I've liked, but they're people who'd be on "alternative" radio back in the old days, like Jewel or Michelle Branch. You tend to give them more credit because they write their own stuff, but now that Britney is at least half-writing, it's one less thing you can get on her about.
I'm so disenchanted with pretty much everything else. Rap sucks except for perhaps Outkast, mainstream rock has too much dick, and electronic music lacks someone like The Prodigy to show everyone how it's done.
Could be worse I suppose... it could be country!
The major cities all have country stations, but only Cleveland has one that's higly rated (which is weird because no one admits to listening to it, along with the other biggest station, an oldies station).