I think that it is partially a matter of relevance. For instance, there are vast newspaper and magazine archives which are free to read, but they don't have the

I think that it is partially a matter of relevance. For instance, there are vast newspaper and magazine archives which are free to read, but they don't have the same relevance as (eg) the latest New York Times articles. (Not that they are without value by any means, but reading them serves a different purpose). Perhaps a better example would be someone in the 60's choosing to listen to an old Andrew Sisters record, or purchase a new Bob Dylan LP. The Andrew Sisters (as fun and lovely as their music is) would not speak to that present moment in the same way that Bob Dylan would. Many aspects of art and culture are timeless, but many are not. There will always be a demand for new works to respond to the current day.