How Many Sales Equal A Hit?

[Final Frontiers]

I've been wondering for a bit about small record companies and not as well known artists- like JSS or Revolution Saints, etc, how many copies of an album or downloads or whatever do they have to sell in order for it to be considered a hit? Or even the post big label deals of Journey, Heart, Toto, etc.

You always hear about the gold and platinum sales of the biggest stars like Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, and Madonna. But are there titles for 10,000, 20,000, etc? I don't know. Plus how is that effected by streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, Beats, etc which pay much less than over the air radio? The big stars say streaming hurts them while the up and comers say that it helps then. But what about the long term journeymen musicians who can still earn a living but aren't stars?

[wednesday's child]

Different world today, where a song can be (legally) downloaded for much less than one could
back in the age of vinyl then magnetic tape, or even CD's. It may be safer to retreat to a much
older, cultural definition: a hit makes a dent in popular awareness.

Even if presales and other corporate gimmicks move a lot of sales, if music doesn't distinguish
itself positively, it's just product.

JM2P, YMMV, TANSTAAFL