It didn't keep them from, "making it big."
I don’t disagree about U2 and many others besides. The difference is that U2’s references are subtle, Big Star’s more religious songs were not covert at all. And you’re assuming that I claim that ALL record companies did this. It could have been one person at Columbia, or I could be completely wrong. It’s simply my belief based on eliminating all other relevant factors.
Christian band The Seventy-Sevens were confidently predicted to be about to take both the secular and Christian rock world by storm, according to the guy who signed them...except that the label they signed on? Island Records -- which released U2's debut album just a little bit later.
As Rick Perry would say, "Oops."
Cheers!