Everett:
"There have been songs that got lots of airplay(pushed by major money) but were a flop at the cash register, while some songs that never went over well with radio, yet sold well. Money can and does cram music into peoples ears but they can't cram it down their throats".

I recall those low profile acts publically that had sales and were played on the radio constantly.
Album oriented FM hits that they achieved through concerts and continual airplay to this day yet never reached the top 40.
And no big money was thrown into it.
I recall especially some Canadien and Midwestern acts like that.
It is odd how some acts sell so well without the airplay though. I guess the word of mouth wins out in the end.

http://www.f3music.com/444