12 copies
I once worked with Robert Singleton at a music chain store which will remain nameless, but it rhymes with pastings. Robert liked to listen to the top 40 station in the back room, where we both 'worked'
Now It needs to be said Robert had great taste in music, and had a vast knowledge as well. So why he liked to listen to top 40 at a particularly dark time for that format was a serious talking point.
At the time Samantha Fox, Rick Astley, Taylor Dane, and Glen Mediros where all in heavy rotation. So listening to that format was killing me.
'Robert, you have good taste so I can't understand why you insist on listening to this awful station?
'I like to hear what's current'
'So this is market research, c'mon'
'No, it's something I enjoy'
'you must be kidding'
'Look, just because you don't like any artist who sells more than 12 copies, doesn't mean I have to'
And so the 12 copies theory was born. I've used it myself many times, when I felt self deprecation was in order for indie snobbery. I've always maintained that there was no real correlation between popularity and my liking an artist. At times I've had to wonder though, I saw U2 twice on the Joshua tree tour, but shortly thereafter they started getting on my nerves. But that's not fair cause they were hugely popular circa Joshua Tree, in fact both were arena gigs. So when I like a new artist who is selling tons of records I feel some validation. I'm reminded of all of this when Joss Stone pops up on Ipod, I love her and she's sold millions, of course the figurative 13th copy could happen at anytime.
Now It needs to be said Robert had great taste in music, and had a vast knowledge as well. So why he liked to listen to top 40 at a particularly dark time for that format was a serious talking point.
At the time Samantha Fox, Rick Astley, Taylor Dane, and Glen Mediros where all in heavy rotation. So listening to that format was killing me.
'Robert, you have good taste so I can't understand why you insist on listening to this awful station?
'I like to hear what's current'
'So this is market research, c'mon'
'No, it's something I enjoy'
'you must be kidding'
'Look, just because you don't like any artist who sells more than 12 copies, doesn't mean I have to'
And so the 12 copies theory was born. I've used it myself many times, when I felt self deprecation was in order for indie snobbery. I've always maintained that there was no real correlation between popularity and my liking an artist. At times I've had to wonder though, I saw U2 twice on the Joshua tree tour, but shortly thereafter they started getting on my nerves. But that's not fair cause they were hugely popular circa Joshua Tree, in fact both were arena gigs. So when I like a new artist who is selling tons of records I feel some validation. I'm reminded of all of this when Joss Stone pops up on Ipod, I love her and she's sold millions, of course the figurative 13th copy could happen at anytime.
posted by Robert_M at 8:33 AM
3 Comments:
Just because you refuse to submit to rubbish doesn't make you a snob.
i have that 'joss stone' feeling when i hear pat green. remember when no-damn-body knew who he was? it was great. then i saw a video he made on cmt...i wanted to vomit. *sigh* those were the good 'ole days.
~b
If I'm honest I have to say that I never really got Pat Green, but now that he's sold 13 copies it's too late for me.
But I still love George Strait and he's had 50 freaking #1 songs, so I'm not a snob...honest
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