That changed in 1996

Mary was not a "pop" artist until laterin her career. She was an R&B STAR, as was Jodeci

"The Telecommuncations Act ushered in a new era of radio consolidation, flattening Black music to fit under one ad-friendly umbrella."

https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7vjqm/this-1996-law-was-meant-to-save-radio-instead-it-decimated-popular-black-music