On 02-05-11 2:33 PM, craigtorso@verizon.net wrote:
>> (* Michael wrote *) Btw, I was reading the latest New Yorker and there's a 1 page
>> Decemberists article which focuses in on the fact this new record
>> debuted as #1 on the Billboard 200 album charts by moving just 93,000
>> copies.
> Which, interestingly, is more than the #1 before it (Cake, 44,000 copies) and after it (Amos Lee, 40,000 copies) combined.
>
> All of the articles I've seen about this phenomenon have been rather hand-wringing in nature, but less-mentioned is this interesting cultural tidbit: supposedly "fringe" musical artists like Cake, The Decemberists, and Amos Lee have had the last three #1 albums in America.  And this is bad...why, exactly?

No, it is good Stewart. Thus my point about the long tail now wagging 
the body.  Dedicated music enthusiasts now make a difference. And 
writers always wring their hands as crises make easy & cheap copy.

Cheers,

  - michael