Yet IMO there is no reason why the two approaches should be mutually exclusive. You can educate while you are entertaining; you can cause people to stop and think even as they sing a catchy chorus. The truly great ones achieve this: Bob Dylan and Paul Simon are just two examples.

The argument that you can be one thing or the other is a false one - like should you think with the left part of the brain or the right. The answer is simple - all of it of course!

Whether the songwriter can achieve this or not is simply a matter of ability.