Imitation vs. Originality

It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but at what cost??? Now more than ever with the current climate of the music business, record labels are signing what they feel are a "Sure Thing". The definition of a "Sure Thing" is an imitation of what is already out there in music.  What is imitation vs. Originality in regards to the music business? Will Originality ever overcome the wave of imitation? Do artist who have been in the game 5 to 10 years feel that others are capitalizing off what they made their own? Is sampling another artist work a form of imitation or originality? 20 years from now, Do you feel imitation will continue to succeed over originality in the music business?