To a degree, a lot has changed. Understanding how deep media cartel influence in politics/control of distribution. Technology, the internet. Blogging tools, social media. etc.
But on the other hand so little has changed also. It is still hard for small label to make it. It is still hard for good music to spread if its not controlled by big labels.
Tho' I have no metric except general sense from searching and browsing the internet (eg. how fast I can find music that I don't know but have some sense I want)
The world is also still so disappointingly mess up. The depth of spying on public is also unbelievable.