Originally posted by superkev:You have to remember that sales figures do not determine how good an album is
And it doesn't hold me back to love the album..
Originally posted by MWSAH:Magnificent entered the Dutch Top 40 at 39, listening to it now at Radio 538. Boots is out of it...
Originally posted by MoFoNYR15:None of this matters because U2 is selling tickets like crazy!!!!! Secong shows galore even in the US! Giants stadium sold out in less than an hour, 82,000 seats!!
Originally posted by Doc32:[..]
It does seem that the standard for popularity as a band these days is becoming the sale of tickets for live shows rather than album sales. You can't illegally download a ticket
Originally posted by u2met86:[..]
To add to Doc32's point, I'd like to distinguish between "popularity" and "allegiance." Popularity is a fickle momentary public position, like hitting #1. Allegiance is a lasting, deeply rooted emotional identification.
The two can go hand in hand, but not necessarily. (For instance, U2 had both at Joshua Tree and ATYCLB, but ONLY the latter during PoP. Mariah Carey has a lot of popularity, less allegiance. Pearl Jam has a bit of popularity, but MASSIVE allegiance.)
Even legally, people may be willing to fork over $0.99 to legally take a chance on a song that's popular for now.
But to experience a gig, you also have to fork over more A LOT more cash, find people to go, drive your way over there and invest a whole evening. I think that's a better predictor / indicator of allegiance.
