"After the final merger of entertainment providers in 2065, entertainment became a tightly controlled commodity, doled out to the people on highly restrictive schedules and terms; the people knew of no other. Individual artists were either quickly absorbed into the corporation, or eliminated socially - while no creative person was ever physically harmed, any artist that did not conform to the direction set by DisCor found themselves ostracized, buried under an avalanche of paid trolls, or - in some cases - exposed as deviants in some form or another.
That's not to say that all expressions of creativity were dead; no, not entirely. Back-alley artists would draw your caricature for a staggering fee and "heareasies" - basement bars where unlicensed and unsanctioned bands would play - while uncommon, *did* exist for the entertainment of those who could pay...and those willing to offer what those with money wanted.
In time, the people forgot they, too, could create. No child drew a picture, no school band could afford the licensing fee to play a concert for their parents. And they were content, as they were taught to be by every family on-screen - identical to themselves in so very many ways - and questioned no more."