Adorno and Horkeimer theory

Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer (1944)

The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception

THE sociological theory that the loss of the support of objectively established religion, the dissolution of the last remnants of pre-capitalism, together with technological and social differentiation or specialisation, have led to cultural chaos is disproved every day; for culture

now impresses the same stamp on everything. 

Applying Adorno and Horkheimer's theory to music artists, the idea is that artists are just a reinvented versions of before-artists of that same genre, and this is for audience purposes and profit making. If there is already a 'pre-sold' audience from previous artists of the same material, than a new artist that fits into this category will sell to the audience, of which record labels endeavour for money making. However, some artists may not conform this theory but then again may only have a niche audience - what record labels are afraid of.