by Lenny Beer

John Legend is for real! Repeat after me: John Legend is for real. It seems that whenever the obvious happens in our business, there are always naysayers among the gatekeepers with excuses aplenty: “It's too black.” “It's too white.” “It's too adult.” “It's too teen.” “It's too smart.” “It's not for my audience.” “People listening to my station aren't the ones buying it.” “Prove to me it’s for my audience.” “Show me that my audience cares.” Blah, blah, blah. Excuse, excuse, excuse. Repeat after me: John Legend is for real.

John Legend's album debuted in the Top 10 and the naysayers called it a fluke. John Legend's album stayed in the Top 10 week after week and the naysayers called it an aberration. John Legend INCREASED in sales inside the Top 10 and the naysayers re-grouped to re-think their opposition. And this week John Legend's album, which opened in the 60k range, then grew to the 90k range, will approach 100k!!!! And the naysayers still look for excuses. Repeat after me: John Legend is for real.

In a marketplace desperately seeking new stars, desperately seeking legitimate stories, desperately seeking someone to ignite sales and electrify the public, gatekeepers continue to ignore—even abhor—the obvious. So attention Crossover radio, hello Top 40 radio and yoo-hoo MTV!—John Legend is for real. He’s come out of nowhere to give 2005 the new star we all desperately need, and it’s time for everyone to jump up and down and shout it from the mountaintops: Records don’t sell like this in a depressed market unless something special is happening. Records don’t sell like this in a hot marketplace unless something special is happening. John Legend is that something special we’ve all been waiting for.

REPEAT AFTER ME: JOHN LEGEND IS FOR REAL.