Paul,
A generalisation undoubtedly, but not IMHO a gross one. The broadside presses/hacks were churning out what was the earlier equivalent of today's 'pop' music. I don't think 'intentional short shelflife' comes into it. Plenty of the pop songs of the past 60 years have entered oral tradition just as they always did. We don't sing them in folk clubs very often because we prefer the pop songs of earlier centuries.





Stir! stir!