The imminent demise of the large record companies as gatekeepers of the world’s popular music is a good thing, for the most part.

Byrne is arguing that the weakening of major record labels’ traditional “gatekeeper” role—deciding which artists get funded, promoted, distributed, and heard—has largely positive consequences. The quote reflects a pro-democratization view of music culture: cheaper production tools and digital distribution can broaden access, diversify what reaches audiences, and reduce dependence on a small set of corporate decision-makers. His qualifier (“for the most part”) signals ambivalence: while gatekeepers can be restrictive, their decline can also remove forms of curation, investment, and career development that labels historically provided. The statement sits within broader debates about digital disruption, artist compensation, and cultural plurality in the internet era.