considering the absolutely stagnant billboard charts , i would say that there is some relationship. given the shear percentage of crap on the radio / clear channel / mtv, it is my (working) opinion that if it isn't being played on the mtv, and someone is buying it (i.e. economical to distribute through normal channels), probability says it's good stuff. so is this how i find music? poking through record stores, and buying on tangents and whim? sure is. does this dictate my musical taste as being superb? no- but it is.