Lily Allen this week criticised record labels for favouring “watered-down” music over anything that’s “experimental and brave”.

The singer discussed the “formulaic and predictable” state of the music industry in a recent interview with NME, suggesting that record companies and A&R people are always choosing “the poppier, more commercial” singles which end up driving an album as the more experimental but “stronger” songs take a back seat.

2013 ended with execs expressing concern over the lack of new artists ...