Source: billboard.biz
By Glenn Peoples, Nashville

First, word of mouth is a main driver of awareness. Even people knee-deep in music rely on recommendations of friends. Second, people believe good music will eventually be discovered. A few of the common answers could easily be taken to heart. Make something new and/or unusual. Offer free MP3s at your Web site. Make a great/different/intriguing video. But the major themes in the responses reveal how difficult it is to reach industry tastemakers.

- Be Able to Influence Word of Mouth
- Make Great Music
- Play Shows
- Get Media Coverage
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The Billboard charts have been tracking album sales since the 1950’s. One flaw in the “Top 200″ has come to light. Billboard did not allow albums that had been out for over a year to be listed. The reasoning was to reflect current products and the up-and-comers. This policy has been changed to due to the death of Michael Jackson and the re-release of the Beatles catalog. Jackson’s “Number Ones” would have been atop the charts for weeks by outselling all current albums but was not acknowledged by the charts. The trend continued with numerous Jackson titles and Beatles catalog. Starting at the end of November, Billboard’s “Top 200″ will reflect all sales, whether current or catalog.