"Typically folks recoil in horror at the notion that their enjoyment of music would be affected by this."
Any links to support the claims that branding works, and that modern music is a function of the tribal effect of being part of a mass-media phenomenon?
If you want academic work, look at anything by Merry White about Japanese children -- she covers the phenomenon of how Japanese record companies do it, and why, in detail. (Short version: the fantasy that you are just like this pop star and that they are part of your life sells records.)
If you want more informal analysis, look at anything in the press about Disney Music in the last 10+ years. It is crazy how much of American pop has come out of The Mouse -- not because they have superior access to talented teenagers but because they know what to do to craft, develop, launch and manage a brand which just happens to center around an actual human being. (They're seriously ambivalent about that, actually -- if they could do it without the human they would.)
I've gotten the impression that creating hits is a complete black art, whihc is one reason companies are so keen on blatant copies and minor variations.
It was also my understanding that most acts fails, even those pushed by major media; people are fickle about what's trend-worthy.
Any links to support the claims that branding works, and that modern music is a function of the tribal effect of being part of a mass-media phenomenon?