Originally Posted by
kenneth
I think the biggest pitfall in trying to compare artists like these, and their chart histories, is that back in the 60s, there were few "genre specific" radio stations. Top 40 was everywhere and included the Supremes, Dean Martin, Rolling Stones, Beatles, CCR, and on and on. A No. 1 hit back then had a much bigger impact than a No. 1 now. It was heard by everyone. Even Mary Wilson said in her second book that when the "new" Supremes would sing their latest top 10 hits like "Nathan Jones," it seemed people in the audience didn't know the tunes; pop radio was already changing quite rapidly.
A similar parallel is the difference between a 60s sitcom which was seen by 20 million people on an off night to one today which considers itself successful if it's seen by 5 million, thanks to the multitude of choices and channels.
Not to take anything away from Rihanna [[an artist who I'm only vaguely familiar with more from the news accounts about her troubles with Chris Brown than her music), but I can't imagine her music will have the kind of impact that the Sups' did, or the decades-long "shelf life."
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