Here’s a little known fact for you: the most requested song in radio history is “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin (some also argue “Ice Ice Baby,” but since it’s up in the air, we’ll focus on “Stairway”).

This probably doesn’t come as a surprise considering how ingrained into Western culture the song is. If you go into a music store, there’s a good chance there will be a sign that says “No Stairway” because generations of rockers strumming the song while testing out a new guitar. If your parents read this, they will cringe thinking about their dance partner during the song at prom. Add the constant classic rock radio play, and the song is inescapable.

So why is it a surprise that “Stairway” is the most requested song in history? It was never a single.

The songs “Rock and Roll” and “Black Dog” off the same Led Zeppelin album were released as singles in the United States, and as you can tell based on the fact that you know the songs, succeeded.

How did “Stairway” get to its current place in culture? Word of mouth.

People bought albums back then. They listened to the whole things. They discussed every song with their friends. The point here is not that “Stairway to Heaven” is a great song; it’s that singles strong-arm modern musical culture.

Here’s the breakdown of modern popular music intake: “Ryanne” hears the song “Teach Me How To Dougie” by the Cali Swag District on the radio. Ryanne shares the song with her friends. They watch the music video on YouTube and naturally learn how to do the “Dougie.”

Ryanne, if she is a law-abiding citizen, will download the song on iTunes. The odds of her downloading another Cali Swag District song after that is minimal. The odds of Cali Swag District having another hit on that scale? Even less.

This is a result of the state of popular music. Fans do not get the choice to make a song a hit.

Far away from where you are listening to the radio, artists and trained professionals are debating what should be the first single for a newcomer to the rap scene. The track they choose is, theoretically, “Work that Tush,” a prototypical rap song meant to make the listener do just that. The song peaks at no. 2 on the Billboard charts, and the rapper is never heard from again. Had any of the other 11 tracks on the album been chosen, songs addressing political corruption and the dangers of drug abuse, the talented rapper would have gotten critical acclaim, not a spot on VH1’s one-hit wonder countdown.

It can’t be said that the artists and professionals don’t know what they’re doing. When a “Single Ladies” or “Umbrella” plays on the radio, there is little doubt that the song would have gotten there by itself, even without the assistance of record labels.

Jay-Z is an excellent example. “99 Problems” and “Dirt off Your Shoulder” are undeniably incredible singles. But the odds of you knowing the song “Moment of Clarity” off of the same album is doubtful, and that’s a shame.

“Moment of Clarity” is, in my completely subjective opinion, the greatest hip-hop song around. It features Mr. Z detailing his struggles, work ethic and life philosophy with enough confidence to stare down an army. It’s difficult to dance to this masterpiece, however, so it was never heard on the radio, and that’s a shame.

There is an incredible variety of music to listen to in this country. Unfortunately, the majority of the population will only hear the few genres broadcast on the radio. The singles system is one that is difficult to overturn. But do yourself a favor and listen to the entire album. You might find something you like.