I don't think this is necessarily a "corporate America" thing. I tend to think that any pub/restaurant owner, if he didn't like the music presented or more importantly if his audience didn't like it and told him so, would probably get rid of the singer. I've been fired before because an owner thought the audience wanted something more contemporary and/or more rock/pop style (i.e. not traditional folk). There may be more to it than just the "chicken legs" comment.