Playing With Numbers

Bob Lefsetz in his Lefsetz Letter likes to make a big deal about how albums don't sell anymore, even by superstars. Of course he's right, but we all know that. He likes to rag on people like Madonna who release much hyped albums but can't get to a million. Even past sellers like Sheryl Crow and John Mellencamp can't get to a half million. Kid Rock only got over a million when his summertime song got released, sans Itunes, but with no help from those of us who went on P2P and got the song for free (you think I'm gonna pay $10 for one good song, Mr. Rock?).
My theory is that 500,000 is the new million and 250,000 the new 1/2 million. Sure some artists will get over the million off of one song or a big record company push (you got your Carrie Underwoods and Coldplays and Lil Waynes), but everyone else has struggled to get to Platinum. So when I see Sheryl Crow go over 300,000 with no hit single or Randy Travis (who hasn't had a hit record in years, anyway) get close to 50,000 with no Country airplay, I think those are good numbers. For them it's a letdown. But in today's climate record numbers are made to be looked upside down.