don
"And this "easy listening" label that you keep tossing around is a category primarily invented by radio stations that play, essentially, background music, which is to say, music that allows you to have some jolly pleasant noise in the background to drown out the sound of the termites eating away the support beams of your house, but not so obtrusive and you have to pay any attention to it. Also it's usually so bland that it doesn't detract from the four-minute commercial breaks that come every eleven minutes."

On the nose. Contemporary singer songwriter (non folk variety)

Higher level- better word is larger market share
beyond the flame covered as it is now by a basket kept there by stubborn folkies unwilling to let it shine

Conrad