Question ...

Does album sales say a particular album released by Prince is a hit or is it more so a matter of personal opinion?

I used to think that album sales dictated that a album was a hit by so said artist (including Prince) but just because the media says it's a great album or because it sells at a diamond status does that make it great?

There are a few dynamics here that are being inadvertently lumped together.

1) Critic's choice: Many albums that don't sell a lot are considered great by music critics like Nelson George, etc. A lot of critics loved The Gold Experience, but it wasn't selling a lot. WB did okay in promotion, and Prince certain did enough in saying it'd never be released, and creating a buzz around it. It created a "need" or desire for the album by the time WB released it. So many critically acclaimed movies and music albums are swept under the rug because the public just doesn't latch onto it. It's a critic's job to listen to stuff and talk about it. Fans are not obligated to listen to anything. Many people dismiss critics, especially when it's a negative or lukewarm review, yet when it's positive, they're quoting said critics left and right.

2) Sales Don't Equal Quality: Not all the time. Many albums sell buckets, but are utter shit. Miley Cyrus has sold barrels of albums, but are they brilliant and inspired? Of course not. The same goes for American Idol singles and albums. 90% of the Idol albums are lackluster, manufactured, and canned sounds.

3) Advertising and Hype = Sales: Most times that's true to an extent. Citing the above Cyrus' songs example, they're tied to a tween television show, and tweens love someone their age doing 3 minute songs. That's just about how long their attention span is at that age. Good advertising can sell albums, and sell a lot of them. When the machine works, it works well, and everyone makes a lot of money.

4) Fans Opinion Is the Only Opinion: Even though an artist makes music to express themselves, and utilize their talent, they're still making music that, they hope, people will want to listen to. If fans buy up the album, the artist could consider it a success. In the past 10+ years, the internet has proven the big sounding board for fan's opinions of albums (and the artist, business actions, etc). Artists won't necessarily change everything about their music to suit the fan/avid listener, but they do pay attention. Prince has proven that, because he's directly addressed fans in songs like "Pearls B4 The Swine" (calling his fans pigs, and ungrateful), and more recently "No More Candy 4 U", directly citing "all the haters on the internet". Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and they all stink - BUT don't think artists still aren't factoring in the fan's response to something, good or bad.

So the ultimate success for an album lies in what? Record company revenues? Fan appreciation and praise? The chart listing? Success hangs on the nail the artist puts their head to. Miley Cyrus is about making money. Prince, although wanting to make a profit, makes music because....well we know...if he didn't he'd die .

very good question

ernest summed things up pretty well so i'll be short

the Black album if I'm not mistaken was praised by music critics, I believe it was in the top 10 even though it (didn't make money) and wasn't legally released. [I'm talking about the 1987/88 release]

A large number of Prince fans call Parade a success even though Prince was supposedly quoted saying he should have put more time into it etc etc

ATWIAD many fan and even music critics praise the quality of the album the depth the creativity etc etc it sold big (but not like PR of course)

How I still judge 'Purple Music' is still by the 1978-1988 bulk of his music because 'that was Prince's sound... that was purple music' that's how I judge the success of Prince music:ind.songs and albums, I still don't think every album 'represented' Princes music, and of course not every song... wither of not it brought in the money doesn't deter me from judging Purple Music