Charli XCX’s definition of a hit record
Charli XCX felt funny accepting Variety’s Hitmaker of the Year Award for her record Brat.
So she told a story about her favorite album:
“In March, 1967, the Velvet Underground released their album The Velvet Underground and Nico. It debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 199. A few weeks later it rose to its peak position of 195. Later in life, Lou Reed told Brian Eno that it had only sold around 30,000 copies over its first five years.”
She paused:
“In my humble opinion, this record is the definition of a hit. This record is arguably one of the most influential and groundbreaking records of our time. This album is the apex of fine art and DIY culture colliding. It’s high and low. It’s poetry meets drugs. It’s earnest meets arrogance.”
“And even if you have never heard a single song from this album, you will undoubtedly recognize its cover either from the walls of a modern art gallery or from the shop floor of an Urban Outfitters. And let’s be real — what is a hit if you’re not conquering both of those places?”
“My album cover has not yet appeared at the Guggenheim or the Whitney or the Tate. However, some of my merch is available to purchase right now in Urban Outfitters. So I guess that means that I’m halfway there.”
(Source: Variety’s Hitmaker of the Year Acceptance Speech | 2024)