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I think one factor is distribution.
ANYONE can produce electronic music. Not all of it is good. And a lot of people just put out one song and that's it. No major distributor is going to touch a one song deal. Compilations? They'll only press a few hundred, maybe a few thousand. Then trying to get that music out there without a major distribution deal is really difficult.
Another problem? Electronic music is waaaaay too granular. I remember when it was just called "Techno." Now there's all these sub-genres. Mainstream America (and that is who you are talking about) doesn't want to have to know what a particular style of music is in order to listen to it.
Which leads me to clique-ishness. I'm not accusing anyone here of that, but I have witnessed it on MANY occassions in regard to electronic music. If you listen to one type of music then you are made to feel inadequate or unknowledgable about another type of music. Most people don't like to be made to appear foolish, so they will avoid the situation that may make them feel that way.
Then theres the transcience of it. Something may be cool for a day or two, but then it gets brushed aside to make room for the next thing. Makes it hard for average Joe to pick up on it.
Yes, the party scene is a little dismal, but that's to be expected when you have anti-drug zealots putting the fear that little Miffy might be offered some ecstacy at a "rave." The last party I went to was pretty innocent. I'm sure there was something going on somewhere, but no one was standing around handing out pills. The media has sensationalised a few bad scenes. That's nothing new ...
As far as music is concerned most young Americans don't want to have to:
a) take chances
b) think for themselves
c) be considered uncool
Younger Europeans generally don't give a sh*t about what anyone else thinks and are more likely to accept new things.
I realize I'm generalising with those statements.
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