I also spend a lot of time on political blogs, and music blogs getting things for my radio show.
There's nothing remotely interesting to me about marketing music as a product.
In my mid 30's, after a decade or so of giving full time to the music thing and finding myself with about $10 in the bank and no assets other than my musical equipment, I realized I needed to get serious about making a living.
I don't think my music is changed enough. There are many songs that I end up scrapping because they sound too much like something I've done before.
I am pretty detached from the local music crowd though.