Why did soul music decline in the 2000s?

The year 2001, in particular, that summer has been described as the golden age of R&B and urban soul music. Artists such as Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Destiny’s Child paved the way for Alicia Keyes, Blu Cantrell, and Aliyah. Other top acts included Mary J Blige and Rhianna.

The industry, as a whole, had no idea what to do with all these enormously talented individuals who rejected entire marketing campaigns designed to break them to the record-buying public. As such, albums were shelved or delayed, and artists were dropped from major labels all the time.