I think the 90's are going to be the decade remembered for just how manufactured music was becoming. The rise of the digital age meant that is was now possible to turn just about ANYONE into a great singer, on recordings at least, so the labels no longer had to look for beautiful people who could also sing, they just needed ones who could lip synch. This is turn meant that the vast majority of popular music was soulless slush.
Then again, I could say the same thing about the 2000's, except that decade also lead to the resurgence of the indie artist... one who could reach their fans no matter where they where on the globe.