regarding musical niches:

I may have posted this before.. if so I apologize for being redundant.

FWIW, I think another musical niche that is not being filled (locally at least) is all the great Motown and R&B music. The rich arrangements and lush orchestration make them perfect candidates for backing track application.

Around here, those songs aren't covered by the average cover band. Young musicians aren't playing the classics, and the older musicians are playing Country, classic rock and jazz.

I was at a jazz club one evening, and the band played one of the old classic Motown songs. Immediately the dance floor filled up.. and not just with old folks. The young waitresses put down their trays and danced too. That scene turned on a light in my mind that I won't soon forget. It just makes sense to play the music that your audience loves.