1. Susan Boyle "I Dreamed A Dream"

Sales this week: 136,566
Weeks on: 6
Cume: 3,103,828

TV didn’t sell this album, the narrative did.

My point is, just because you’re on television, that doesn’t mean anybody will want to buy your music.  Otherwise, Snooki would be number one!

But here we have a story.  Unattractive wannabe makes it solely on her talent.  In a world topsy-turvy with haters, frustrated by those blessed with good looks or good money, is it a surprise that the public wants to root for an underdog?

Does this portend an end to the bitches and ho’s hip-hop ethos?  I.e. I’m rich and I fly on a private jet and party with an exclusive class, buy my record and by the way, fuck you?  Turns out, being humble just might be the answer to success these days.  Hey, isn’t it interesting that the Dave Matthews Band was the number one touring band of the decade?

2. Lady GaGa "Fame"

Sales this week: 82,148
Weeks on: 62
Cume: 2,387,666

Is the same thing that’s made her famous going to be her downfall?

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta is not without talent.  But her notoriety is based to a large extent on her sartorial adventures.  And does anybody want last year’s fashion collection?

Furthermore, Stefani makes dance music.  The club hits tend to drive booties to bump, but don’t insure long term careers.

The Spice Girls showed us people will want to see a hit act once.  But thereafter?

For GaGa to have legs, she needs to risk.  Because this paradigm has nowhere to go.  Next year at the VMAs, you change outfits twenty times?  In other words, maybe she has to sacrifice short term success for longevity.  The same way after purveying soft rock hit after soft rock hit John Mayer formed a blues rock trio and shredded.  The result may not have played well on Top Forty radio, but it did wonders for his credibility.  And live business.

5. Taylor Swift "Fearless"

Sales this week: 59,701
Weeks on: 60
Cume: 5,329,167

The new "Tapestry".  Taylor is that rare bird who’s broken through the twenty first century clutter without killing somebody, going into rehab or making an ass of him/herself on reality TV.  And, having broken through, the album sells as a cultural item, without needing to be sustained by radio and other high-priced media coverage.

But, unlike "Tapestry" or "Jagged Little Pill", this is Taylor Swift’s second hit album.  Her first, the eponymous "Taylor Swift", has been on the chart for 167 weeks and has sold 4,622,024 copies and is still number 38, moving 15,858 units this week.

Taylor’s here to stay.  As long as she continues with the same formula.  Telling her story to hooky songs.

What a concept.  SuBo and Taylor have this in common.  We’re bonded to their lives, the real them.  SuBo won’t have legs, because there’s nothing behind the facade, but Taylor Swift is just coming into her own, as an adult, she’s got plenty more to say.  And her audience wants to hear it.

Expect another bump after the Grammys.  Assuming the much older members of NARAS give Taylor her due, as the artist of the year, the beacon of hope for this industry.  Because believe me, with Taylor Swift, it’s all about the music.

6. Justin Bieber "My World"

Sales this week: 51,837
Weeks on: 7
Cume: 727,914

Just like milk, this comes with an expiration date.  It’s just a matter of when.

So, if you can time your efforts to his career arc, you can make a ton of bread before you get out.  But he won’t be playing a month straight at the Beacon years from now.

25. Zac Brown Band "Foundation"

Sales this week: 20,953
Weeks on: 59
Cume: 1,456,148

That’s what Zac’s built. A  foundation.

Isn’t it funny that the acts with the longest legs, with the most credibility and longevity, are country artists?  It’s about both the music and the individual.

Zac’s cooking efforts help enhance his career.

His roadwork has built a base.  Something TV can never supplant.   You can fall in love with a picture, but what are the odds you’re going to love that person once you finally meet them in person?

Build it on the road, and you’ve got something solid.

34. Adam Lambert "For Your Entertainment"

Sales this week: 17,236
Weeks on: 6
Cume: 433,834

The story overwhelmed the music.  Adam Lambert was seen as a celebrity more than a musician.  His exploits chronicled on gossip as opposed to music blogs.  AI losers are better off following the Daughtry paradigm.  Start with the music.

42. Darius Rucker "Learn To Live"

Sales this week: 14,785
Weeks on: 68
Cume: 1,240,902

That’s a hell of a lot of records.  And it’s still selling more than a year in.  This is what’s right with the industry.  After all, Darius isn’t making it on his good looks and charisma, and he didn’t even use the name "Hootie".  It started with the music, and was built by a ton of glad-handing and roadwork.  But, if you don’t fit the country format, I’d add in a ton of social media networking.

50. Shakira "She Wolf"

Sales this week: 14,101
Weeks on: 6
Cume: 237,994

A stiff.  Because she followed trends instead of being herself.

Have you ever seen Shakira live?  There’s charisma, energy, she’s a star.  But now, like a politician making choices via polls as opposed to his gut, Shakira’s changed herself for the English-speaking market and ended up so bland as to be irrelevant.  She’s me-too instead of unique.

Never sacrifice your uniqueness.  That’s what keeps us coming.  And the modern music business is all about keeping people coming.

52. 30 Seconds To Mars "This Is War"

Sales this week: 13,071
Weeks on: 4
Cume: 133,297

Wow, Jared Leto should have stuck to his guns, he should have left EMI and gone to a real record label.

It took this band too long to make a new record.  The audience forgets you.  And, the label didn’t help.  A disaster.

89. Paul McCartney "Good Evening New York City"

Sales this week: 8,502
Weeks on: 7
Cume: 234,106

This album came out why?

Do we really need to hear live versions of classic songs one more time?

Paul needs a single.  Like "Junior’s Farm".  Or "Coming Up".  A bundle of energy.

There’s no one more talented.  Paul likes money, but he thrives on success.  One track that we can all rally around, please.

124. Rosanne Cash "The List"

Sales this week: 5,810
Weeks on: 13
Cume: 153,828

I found the hype offensive.

How does a complete has-been with no traction sell an album?

Well, we need an angle.  Let’s trade on your famous deceased father and trump up something irrelevant, like this list, and get a great press story!

And the album?

Some of the production was offensive.  And I actually like Rosanne’s music, especially the first two albums.

But, it worked.  Publicity sold this record.

But if you’re listening to it, you probably bought the SuBo album too.  Oh, you’re too hip.  Too hip to search out the originals?

172. Puddle Of Mudd "Volume 4: Songs In The Key Of Love & Hate"

Sales this week: 4,016
Weeks on: 4
Cume: 35,075

If you’re offensive, you must make good music to survive.  (See John Mellencamp…)

Everybody hated this guy.  And now with MTV and AOR radio dead, is it any surprise no one wants to support his retread music?