well
Ray. As much as I don't care for the idea that today's athletes are superior there are some objective parameters, faster times etc..
Popular music is much more subjective. I would say, if anything Beatles did that what no one else can do. That is usher in an era of rock n roll which became culturally significant. Seems to me rock n roll as a politically and culturally significant thing is long dead and can never come back no matter how virtuoso the musicians. (not that I spend my time listening to Beatles records)