Restaurants in New York City

Apparently not since more restaurants see it as a positive trend.

I'd say unfortunately not as it seems people no longer desire pleasant dinner conversation and instead think it normal to be bombarded with anything that's at the least just beyond the level of comfort.

If the music/TV is loud enough that you have to raise your voice to be heard above it, it's too loud.

Ya know, I remember the time, in a galaxy far far aware, when you could actually ask someone working in a restaurant to turn down the volume juuuust a little, and they would do it.

We went to a new restaurant last week (new in that we hadn't been there before)
It was more or less upscale, at least if you judged by the prices on the menu.

The food was unique, and in fact, very enjoyable.
But we wouldn't go back there, for 2 or 3 reasons. The #1 being they did that thing were the music was just a tad too loud, causing people to talk louder, then you had to talk louder to be heard over them, etc, etc. A vicious cycle.