Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” sold over 1 million albums in one week – the biggest one-week sales since 2005, aka since the recorded music industry totally collapsed. Why?

One could argue:

• It’s demographics: Tweens are still tactile and like to actually touch the album. Sorry, still does not explain 1 million.

• It’s the country market. Country still sells albums, concerts, and continues to be the most powerful terrestrial radio format. Sorry, still does not explain 1 million.

• A&R is dead and the labels are betting on the wrong acts. Interesting argument. If I recall correctly, no one wanted to sign Taylor. She ended up at the then nascent Big Machine Records because they liked her and her family invested.

• She treats her fans with respect. True. She built her fan base online and continues to interact and empower her fans on a daily basis.

• She’s accessible. True. Taylor is the girl next door.

• The music is pop perfection. Hell yea. It is impossible, whether child or adult, not to love Taylor’s music. It’s catchy story-telling touched with idealism and romance. Like a good movie that allows the audience to escape to a better, happier place, Taylor does the same. Her songs take you to the reveries of lost youth, romance and hope. Exactly what Americans want in this economy and tough times.

Bottom line:

Clearly, albums still sell. It’s time for the recorded music industry to accept the fact that maybe they’ve just been betting on the wrong acts. Maybe some of the executives in charge just don’t know what they are doing. Maybe, maybe it’s finally time for a real changing of the guard at the top level. Bring it on.

Go Taylor.