As soon as I got home from hearing Little Big Town on the satellite, I fired up SoundScan to see how many albums they’d sold. Noticing they’d crossed the million copy threshold with "The Road To Here", I looked to see what other acts in the Top 100 had hit achieved milestone. Here is my report:

6. Linkin Park "Minutes To Midnight"
Warner Brothers

Sales this week: 81,585
Cume: 1,125,177
Weeks on: 5

Is Linkin Park’s crime that they changed direction, gave up what they built their reputation upon, rap-rock, or that it’s just hard to be ubiquitous anymore. These are massive numbers in today’s marketplace, but will Linkin Park equal "High School Musical"? I doubt it, Linkin Park is not on the Disney Channel ad infinitum.

13. Daughtry
RCA

Sales this week: 55,683
Cume: 2,779,675
Weeks on: 30

If only he weren’t the beneficiary of all that TV exposure, then we’d be REALLY impressed. But, at best, he’s Kelly Clarkson, riding his momentary fame, only as good/big as his last hit.

In other words, when the hits stop coming, Daughtry’s DONE!

In order to have longevity, your ascent must be ORGANIC!

22. Carrie Underwood "Some Hearts"
Arista

Sales this week: 40,893
Cume: 5,660,163
Weeks on: 83

Now you know why the Nashville community is pissed that Carrie was snubbed at the Grammys. She’s got the BIGGEST SELLING RECORD ON THE CHART!

Sure, some sales occurred before the business tanked. But, the reason this album is so massive is it’s GOOD!

Yes, it’s Nashville, where artistry is different. It’s ABOUT singing other people’s songs. And the songs chosen for Carrie…are positively first rate. And she delivers them.

23. Fergie "Dutchess"
Interscope

Sales this week: 40,746
Cume: 2,038,823
Weeks on: 39

Isn’t it funny how we hate Fergie, but not Carrie Underwood?

Blame management, or lack thereof.

Don’t blame Jimmy Iovine. He’s not in the BUSINESS of management. He’s about selling albums, TODAY!

We hate Fergie. People make fun of her looks. She’s overexposed. She’s a joke. Sure, some unknowledgeable kids are buying this album, but they’ll grow up and learn to hate her too.

If you’re a party doll, if you’re L.A., you’re just not believable in the heartland. Maybe Britney should move back to Louisiana… What’s that white trash ‘ho doing in MALIBU?

29. Nickelback "All The Right Reasons"
RoadRunner

Sales this week: 31,421
Cume: 5,465,775
Weeks on: 89

We don’t live in a hip-hop nation, we live in a ROCK nation.

Yup, listen to these hit country records, they’re rock too!

Once again, the media is out of touch. Needing to be hip, needing to be inside, needing to feel that IT’S the story, the media is not paying attention to what people truly want. These Nickelback albums didn’t sell themselves, didn’t get up out of the bins in Best Buy and walk out the front door all by their lonesome. No, people BOUGHT THEM! They PAID for them.

Sure, people want to dance, but even more they want something that touches them, that makes them feel good.

Nickelback might be basic, but they rule because NOBODY ELSE IS PLAYING IN THIS SPHERE!

If you want to be a shoegazer alternative rocker, selling not even a hundred thousand albums…that’s your PREROGATIVE! But don’t bitch that you’re not bigger, your jingle-jangle sound just isn’t what most people WANT!

34. Robin Thicke "The Evolution Of Robin Thicke"
Interscope

Sales this week: 24,466
Cume: 1,221,825
Weeks on: 37

Proving one’s name is not a liability.

Then again, we haven’t heard from his dad in EONS!

35. Akon "Convicted"
Universal

Sales this week: 23,046
Cume: 2,449,040
Weeks on: 31

Which is what he’s going to be soon. At least the way he’s going.

Not long from now, this above the law, gangsta behavior just isn’t gonna play. Hell, Russell Simmons is now a yogamaster selling love, truth and happiness.

Buy his self-help book HERE:

Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success

36. Rascal Flatts "Me and My Gang"
Lyric Street

Sales this week: 22,069
Cume: 4,129,495
Weeks on: 63

Funny, I haven’t read about any layoffs at HOLLYWOOD RECORDS!

Yup, while Atlantic has been remade as an urban label, while Warner Brothers Records is laying off promo people, while Rhino is being gutted, Hollywood Records is humming along, selling what’s not hip, but what people WANT!

This business took a left turn at some point. Where the people working at public companies thought it was about THEIR taste, where they didn’t care what sold as long as it reflected well on THEM!

Well, too many execs at the traditional labels are out of touch with the public.

And people like Jimmy Iovine are just foisting trash like the Pussycat Dolls upon us. High concept detritus.

Rascal Flatts is more meaningful than half the stuff Jimmy hypes. Even though so many in the country world pooh-pooh them. But they’ve got voices and they sing songs with melodies…WHAT A CONCEPT!

37. Justin Timberlake "Future Sex/Love Songs"
Jive

Sales this week: 21,737
Cume: 3,336,679
Weeks on: 40

Good if you want to do the herky-jerky while you’re getting high at the club, looking to get laid. But this shit has the sticking power of teflon… I.e. NONE!

38. Gwen Stefani "Sweet Escape"
Interscope

Sales this week: 21,375
Cume: 1,368,201
Weeks on: 28

Orange County girl next door breaks through by wearing her heart on her sleeve.

Then becomes a fashion plate little girls can look up to, but no one can relate to.

She’s lost touch.

41. "Hannah Montana" Soundtrack
Disney

Sales this week: 19,426
Cume: 2,603,746
Weeks on: 34

TV sells records. But it burns out careers. But how many years does a TV SHOW PLAY FOR?

The title of the new disc includes Miley Cyrus’ name. Interesting concept, trying to build her career. But there’s nothing to build. Overexposed teen stars don’t have long careers. Can you say Tiffany, Debbie Gibson…NICK CARTER?

46. Hinder "Extreme Behavior"
Universal

Sales this week: 16,545
Cume: 2,410,281
Weeks on: 71

See Nickelback above.

Actually, see Hair Band 101. Rock band breaks via ballad.

50. John Mayer "Continuum"
Columbia

Sales this week: 15,549
Cume: 1,728,609
Weeks on: 40

I guess he survived Jessica Simpson.

But the reason John still sells is he’s seen as CREDIBLE!

Ain’t that a laugh. When credibility ruled, it would be seen as INCREDIBLE that this guy is a star.

53. Corinne Bailey Rae
Capitol

Sales this week: 14,892
Cume: 1,568,447
Weeks on: 52

Housewife word of mouth is slow.

Shit, the way this album is moving it could be the new "Dark Side Of The Moon"!

Well, not really. But this could sell for YEARS!

While you’re pandering to young ‘uns, delivering evanescent crap, you’re ignoring the real marketplace, people who grew up buying music, who STILL want to buy music, it’s just that they don’t know WHAT to buy!

54. Nelly Furtado "Loose"
Geffen

Sales this week: 14,617
Cume: 1,835,473
Weeks on: 52

One of the few acts DreamWorks broke. By spending a lot of money showcasing her unique creativity.

Now she’s just hitmaker of the moment, without a career.

She’ll be home raising her children SOON! Whereas Regina Spektor can work for DECADES!

58. Sugarland "Enjoy The Ride"
Mercury Nashville

Sales this week: 12,584
Cume: 1,084,100
Weeks on: 32

ANOTHER country record?

They’re over thirty… Why don’t they RETIRE!

For every artist who’s heard he’s too old… You’re talking to the wrong people, or maybe you need to move to NASHVILLE!

62. Beyonce "B’Day"
Columbia

Sales this week: 12,256
Cume: 2,745,159
Weeks on: 41

Is it a good thing she’s not up front in the press anymore, or not?

On one hand, it’s good she’s laying fallow. But, if you’re a hitmaker, you’ve got to keep the hype CONSTANT! Your reign in today’s marketplace is BRIEF!

Then again, she gets caught up in the Jay-Z hype. It’s not like she’s invisible.

67. Norah Jones "Not Too Late
Blue Note

Sales this week: 11,944
Cume: 1,364,818
Weeks on: 20

It was the press that hyped expectations. Norah has tried to defuse them from the very beginning.

She didn’t try to be Alanis Morissette, she didn’t try to wow people, go further, keep her crown, she underplayed. Sure, she’s a shadow of what she once was sales-wise, but phenomena only occur once. The ultra-talented Carole King only had one "Tapestry".

Right where she should be.

72. Keith Urban "Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing"
Liberty

Sales this week: 11,343
Cume: 1,355,132
Weeks on: 32

Pretty good for a man who was in rehab when his album was released. Then again, is this record as good as the earlier ones…

Still, what pop artist would go platinum if they weren’t available to do Leno, Letterman and "Today" and talk to every print outlet known to man when their album came out?

81. Josh Turner "Your Man"
MCA Nashville

Sales this week: 10,404
Cume: 1,856,775
Weeks on: 73

Two weeks ago, I didn’t even know who this guy WAS!

Yup, the marketplace is anything but homogeneous. Popsters don’t know country, baby boomers buying Norah Jones don’t know Ne-Yo. Top Forty, my ass. We live in a land of BALKANIZATION!

82. The Fray "How To Save A Life"
Epic

Sales this week: 10,370
Cume: 2,104,621
Weeks on: 75

Can you say Lifehouse?

All about the hit. And without a new one, which is hard to concoct, they’re openers at best. Better yet, why don’t they quit and go to COLLEGE!

86. Tim McGraw "Greatest Hits, Vol. 2"
Curb

Sales this week: 9,381
Cume: 1,808,602
Weeks on: 64

Volume TWO?

Nobody in the pop world has enough hits to fill volume ONE!

90. Little Big Town "The Road To Here"
Equity

Sales this week; 9,029
Cume: 1,041,259
Chart re-entry 9 weeks ago, original release date: October 4, 2005

Mmm… They’ve sold almost as many records as Norah Jones, albeit much more SLOWLY!

So why aren’t THEY ubiquitous in the media?

92. Tony Bennett "Duets: American Classic"
Columbia

Sales this week: 8,946
Cume: 1,521,742
Weeks on: 36

One of these days Tony’s gonna die, and you’re gonna feel shitty you don’t own this album to spin it. At least that’s how so many of the purchasers felt!

93. Brad Paisley "Time Well Wasted"
Arista

Sales this week: 8,907
Cume: 1,977,852
Weeks on: 96

Nobody above him has been on the chart LONGER!

97. George Strait "It Just Comes Natural"
MCA Nashville

Sales this week: 8,713
Cume: 1,073,158
Weeks on: 37

His first number one was twenty five years ago. Talk about career LONGEVITY!

99. 30 Seconds To Mars "Beautiful Lie"
Virgin

Sales this week: 8,581
Cume: 1,004,652
Weeks on: 57

Give Jared Leto credit for not putting the record out under his own name.

This ain’t no Don Johnson, people actually take this band seriously. Who’d-a-thunk?