Chronologically it’s equivalent. The differences you cite are all very real and are a result of changes in communications media but it helps to have a sense of proportion about stuff like this.
I was trying to give you a sense of proportion between a musician who was pre radio, pre TV, pre record industry, pre WWI, and Pre Great Depression, and Pre WWII, being recognizable to a 1970 American, versus a 2014 American not knowing about Paul McCartney.