I'd like to find a way to assess the role that predictive popularity filters have on the longevity of new artists (http://www.hitpredictor.com/about.php). How does having something like this in place not invite continuously creating the moving average of derivative crap?

Further, is the current lack of quality a reflection that artists are pushed before they have time to develop longevity or that talent isn't 'recognized' unless it fits the mold du jour?

Is the ClearChannel effect, the automation of radio, contributing to this need for homogenized pulp? It's such a large system to diagnose.