An unimpeachable tautology and I agree with most of what you’ve said here. I’d just add that the pathway to huge success passes through moderate success, and this is where an algorithm or influence can be, well, influential.

Record companies participated in Payola for a reason.

In the 80s, getting into the Top 40 would guarantee radio airplay. You’d be surprised how few sales it would take to get there. So much so, one Melbourne musician’s mother was well known at Brashs for buying up copies when he son’s latest song came.

If algorithms were so inert they would simply publish them, but they don’t.