want a #1? how-to surf the vicious music industry

('ere is a snippet from early on. fantastically, depressingly dour English-style doom+gloom snarkiness:)

the majority of number one's are achieved early on in the artist's public career and before they have been able to establish reputations and build a solid fan base. most artists are never able to recover from having one and it becomes the millstone around their necks to which all subsequent releases are compared. the fact that a record is number one automatically means the track is in a very short period of time going to become over exposed and as worthless as last month's catchphrase.

once or twice a decade an act will burst through with a number one that hits a national nerve and the public's appetite for the sound and packaging will not be satisfied with the one record. the formula will be untampered with and the success will be repeated a second, a third and sometimes even a fourth time. the prison is then complete; either the artist will be destroyed in their attempt to prove to the world that there are other facets to their creativity or they succumb willingly and spend the rest of their lives as a travelling freak show, peddling a nostalgia for those now far off, carefree days. these are the lucky few. most never have the chance of a repeat performance and slide ungracefully into years of unpaid tax, desperately delaying all attempts to come to terms with the only rational thing to do - get a nine to five job.

even if the unsuspecting artiste doesn't know the above, rest assured most of the record business does but for some lemming-like reason refuses to acknowledge it. they continue to view the act's cheaply recorded, debut blockbuster as striking gold and will spend the next few years pumping fortunes into studio time, video budgets and tour support whilst praying for a repeat of the miracle and the volume album sales that bring in the real money.

of course there are those artists that have worked long and hard building personal artistic confidence, critical acclaim, a loyal following (all strong foundations) and then have a number one, that is that crowning glory. but even then the disgruntled purists amongst the loyal following desert in disgust at having to share their private club with the unwashed masses.

so what's left? what's the point? what can be achieved when no great financial rewards or long term career prospects allowing for creative freedom can be hoped for, let alone guaranteed? we don't know.