More Than Just Talent: a Look at the Characteristics of the Successful Recording Artist in the Jazz and Classical Fields

A common joke tells of a lost tourist in New York City asking a police officer: "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" The reply, ("Practice, practice, practice!") says much about the mythology that surrounds the famous hall and the careers of those who play there, but does little to help the lost traveler get to their destination. Similarly, the advice is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg for musicians who have aspirations of becoming successful in both performance and recording fields. An album serves different purposes for performing artists and recording artists and through careful examination of Nielson Soundscan charts, Billboard charts, marketing plans and interviews of various music industry experts, a new light is shed on the common threads between the artists and albums at the top of the charts. What key elements do successful jazz and classical albums have in common?