Mackie,

While technically you may be right, market share for country is increasing, not decreasing. Music and all entertainment, software, etc. are down because of file sharing and free giveaways. And it is in all markets.

The problem that all songwriters have is that they generally are not the market. For instance, older people do have money too, but they tend to make more individual decisions what to do with it and actually are busy spending it on paying bills, retirement plans, etc. than younger people, who spend it more in a purchasing "block." So they are more likely to make a bigger impact.

The point of co-writing, in addition to learning more about the craft, dealing with the real problems we all encounter,is just one of the methods of writing. Many people still solo write.
Not saying not to. But if you are trying to interact with the industrym any industry, the better connection you have to that industry, propritary interest (Having an artist personally invested in a song) the better the demos, the better your overall chances are in interacting with that industry.

MAB