I never said that artistic integrity was measured by record sales. You came to that false conclusion yourself using poor logic. But you are right that is silly.
Let me explain my way of thinking a little better. in this case 50 cent has presented his art in a markett of buyers. He has a lot of buyers, therefore its a good indicator that he has certain amounts of integrity. I wouldn't say the same for a local bar band, maybe then it would be by how many people showed up to the show, or maybe how many people started line dancing, lol, I dont know its different with each case.
So i ask you this, By what do you measure a mainstream aritsts artistic integrity by then? If not record sales, then what. (hopefully not how many people are line dancing) If you can answer that then I will exept your way of measurement and you win. But I don't think you will be able to.
Think of it this way; out of all the people that bought a 50 cent record, how many of them do you think would say 50 cent has artistic integrity? probably a lot of them, so I say, ok they are probably right, 50 cent has some sort of integrity.
Record sales is the closest thing i could think of because anything else is just a persons preference and obviously I cant know what everybody thinks of an artist, so there really is no sure way to measure integrity, so what should i go by? Record sales is a pretty good indicator that people like the music, i dont go out and buy stuff i dont want. There are faults in this system obviously in cases like milli vanilli, but like i said its not perfect.
personaly i dont like 50 cents art but I can see how he must have integrity among the people that like him, i dont know why anyone would argue with that!?
As far as britney spears having artistic integrity, sure she does as a dancer and singer. Maybe not so much as a songwriter or producer or something like that, but for what she does she does well. I believe she expresses herself through art very well, she has done performing arts since she was young, and i like her voice. So of course (to me) she has artistic integrity. Just becuase its bubble gum pop or dancing and expressing yourself through fashion or whatever doesnt mean it is not art.
Modus