View post (Manowar - why are they great?)
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You're exactly right. Popularity can have as much to do with branding as it does music. Several times I've grown to appreciate an artist because of their message, projected by their image, which was complimented their style of music. It's a way of extending who you are through what you like. I don't think we all conciously listen to music that reinforces who we want to be, but it does happen.