Well, it has changed a lot, in the 80's the music industry didn't take seriously rock music, they preferred pop singers and some overseas artist, but rock started to gain some field, and bam!! X appeared and ****** up the poppish music agents, opening a big industry and a huge marketing to rock.
It's hard to say if it is better or worse now: this days we have a huuuuge music scene, and lots of good and crappy bands, music has changed too, we have many music style fusions to satisfy any kind of music taste hehehe.
You know, I'm al oldie here, in my opinion, I prefer japanese 80's bands, I grew up listening to them, and I think that in those years, the best bands were created and taught everybody how things should be done in music, hahaha.
Se you later!!