"In the early 1970s. 1971, '72. The rooms were closing down, record labels weren't signing acoustic acts any more. Although they had been pretty much been getting out of that for some time before that"

This quote by Dave Van Ronk reviews the changing landscape of the music industry in the early 1970s. He points out that throughout this time, the rooms, or venues, where artists would carry out were closing down. This might be due to a decline in interest or monetary battles. Furthermore, Van Ronk keeps in mind that record labels were no longer signing acoustic acts, indicating musicians who mostly used acoustic instruments in their performances. This shift had actually been occurring for a long time before the early 1970s, suggesting a larger pattern in the industry. This quote highlights the difficulties faced by musicians throughout this time and the altering preferences of the music market.