During the 1970s and 1980s artists record companies were more interested in selling entire albums than individual singles.?

This statement is not entirely accurate. While it's true that in the 1950s and 1960s, singles were the primary format for releasing music, and albums were often seen as compilations of successful singles, the 1970s and 1980s saw a shift towards a focus on albums.

Several factors contributed to this change, including the rise of album-oriented rock (AOR) radio stations and the increasing sophistication of audio equipment, which allowed listeners to appreciate the nuances and complexities of full-length albums. As a result, artists and record companies placed greater emphasis on creating cohesive and well-crafted albums, and singles became secondary to the overall album experience.

In the 1980s, however, the pendulum started to swing back towards singles, thanks in large part to the rise of MTV and the increased emphasis on music videos. Singles again became a significant promotional tool for artists and record labels, and many songs that had previously been album tracks became hit singles due to exposure on MTV.