Sorry, I need to clarify that when I said I wasn't buying music back then or paying for concerts, this was when I was a teenager - 25 yrs old.(since we were talking about the young people 12-25 were the ones who buy the music).
I started buying music when I was 25-35. So the point I was making was that I wasn't buying music in my teenage years. So yes, I have contributed much to the artists. I gave George Strait, Waylon, Hank, etc... plenty of money in purchased CD's. Not to mention Jimmy Buffet and others. There are countless others, these were just some favorites I am mentioning as examples. Sorry I wasn't clear on that.
And yes, If I could find some artists who sing the way I like, I would buy their albums now...