Originally Posted by Frownland

That's a pretty dumb way to look at it. The only reason we're having this convo in the first place is because someone banked on popularity when someone else contradicted their taste. That's the only time I've seen it invoked, is when it's used as an empty "well bunches of people can't be wrong!"

It's a ****ty validation of an artist's worth even in context of other qualities because it is an unreliable model. The only reason you would think otherwise is because popularity doesn't contradict your taste.