Catalogue music is king

The Telegraph published an article lamenting on how difficult it is for new artists to generate hit albums.  Note that this refers to hit albums, not singles, as far as I can tell, hit singles for newer artists are booming just fine.  

I find it difficult to sympathize with how new artists supposedly have it so bad.   I think it was inevitable that with streaming becoming the dominant medium for listening, and algorithms shaping personal tastes (as opposed to actually going into a music store, listening, and deciding what you like for yourself) that catalogue music would explode.  It's never been easier or more convenient to seek out older music.  The music industry loves this model -- labels don't have to spend money on A&R and marketing, every lisence agreement and stream is pure profit for them.  Directing listener's tastes toward more profitable music is obviously in their interest, so why wouldn't they embrace streaming and allow algorithms to market their music to listeners for them?  And of course, with this system the consumer never owns anything -- they pay subscription money in perpetuity to continue hearing the songs they want.  

Rick Beato spoke about a topic that I believe is related -- the homogeneity of radio station programming and producer styles.  Uniformity leads to collectively playing it safe.  National radio programming means you can't risk catering to niche elements of your listener base, you need to tailor your programming choices to the broadest possible audience, and that extends to the sounds of the records as well.

The increasing homogenization of music makes catalogue music stand out even more.  "Running Up That Hill" wasn't a massive hit after thirty seven years just because it was featured in a popular Netflix show.  It became a hit because it doesn't sound remotely like anything else produced in the 2020's.  It didn't sound like anything produced in the 1980's either, but the point isn't that listeners today are more cultured or educated and appreciate Kate Bush more than the supposedly less-forward thinking listeners of the 80's.  The point is that homogenization and corporately approved algorithms has numbed the taste of the modern listener to such an extent that a Kate Bush can put 90% of today's music to shame simply by existing and getting even the smallest random marketing boost.  How many other would-be hits from past decades are waiting in the wings, ready to burst onto the charts if they're given the tiniest promotional opening?