I think you're a little idealistic. 'Corruption' (for want of a better word ... 'playing the game' might be a better way to put it) is pretty much endemic everywhere in all walks of life. Even when I was in the lower eschelons of the uncivil service a century ago, I saw it go on all the time - the girl with the pretty smile (and maybe mobile lips!) and brown nosing suck ups getting promoted over the real workers (yes - there were a few), my old drama teacher giving up his industrial plant hire company because local councillors would always ask "What's in it for me?" when he tendered for a job, the 'management advisors' who get the £2millions NHS gig because they walk the walk, talk the talk ... and take the NHS managers out for nice lunches ... and so on.

Seen it in the music biz too - the good looking posey boy with two chords under his belt who gets the gig over the considerably better but slightly paunchy gitwrist... the composer who gets the Nike ad gig because his girlfriend's on the production team ... and they met at a trendy bar where those types hang out ... and so on.

I'm not saying it's right and I also believe that it should all be based on merit, not bullshit or a pretty face, whatever, but there ya go - it's the way it is unfortunately.

As for 'deterring' people getting into the biz we call 'music', not so sure of that - entrants are arguably at an all time high with deluded individuals wanting to attend useless music tech courses to get qualifications that have no relevance in an industry where there are no jobs (to speak of ... but arguably plenty of self-made opportunities). And that's before we factor in the X-Factor and the like - people want to be pop stars (or, more specifically perhaps, 'celebrities') and will (as ever) sign (and do) anything to achieve that. And (sadly) serious talent will often be overlooked in favour of bright and shiny and easily marketable. Nothing new and nothing changes! And it will probably ever be so.

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