This would surely depend on whether the artist was, principally, a performer of traditional songs or of self-composed material. Having said that, there are those of the former category who specialise in researching little-known or very unusual versions of traditional material and applying alternative tunes and original arrangements.

I would deplore any attempt to underestimate an audience by dumbing down and performing any old hackeyed crap. That's a bit like the perceived necessity in the 60s to include a standard on a first LP (Till The Was You / When You Walk Through A Storm).