Saw this article on the BBC website about the success of Adele's 2011 offering 21. Its a phenomenal achievement by any standards. I am absolutely delighted for her and immensely heartened that someone can still sell that many records in one year. But to have done it at this moment in the history of recorded music seems remarkable.

So what's going on here? Is it simply that its a truly great album that has captured the imagination of a generation as no other has? Is it a sign that audiences are becoming fatigued by overly manufactured productions and hanker after more plausible music, performed using 'real' instruments? Is it a consequence of her management's bold refusal to allow her music to be distributed by the likes of Spotify or Pandora etc. (so you have to actually buy it like we did back in the day)? Its not as if it's a one off. Her first album 19 was also enormously successful.

I've stated my view in previous posts on the general health of the music business that at least some of the blame for the decline in record sales should be attributed to the quality of content. But I certainly don't think its all because so much music over the last decade has lacked luster. After all there is nothing very new about that! And there is no doubt that piracy has played an enormous role in declining record sales too. But in this commercial landscape she has now sold over 17 million records inside 12 months. So what do people think Adele's success tells us?

--------------------
Strictly project and just for fun

Post Extras