The Numbers Count

 Des O'Connor recorded 36 albums and had four top-ten UK singles, including a number-one hit with "I Pretend", with global sales of more than sixteen million records.  So with a global population of 7 Billion people today he would have had 0.23% of world sales.

Less than 1%

Its only an estimate because I don't know what the world population was at the start of his career and how many people had access to record shops.  But it was probably less than 1%.

What does it mean?

It means that a popular performer like Des O'Connor, only sold records to 1 person in every 100.  With a population of 50 million, 1% of sales would be 500 thousand.  So that means that UK record sales are less than 1% or 2% of the population.

Are you a star?

If you play at a gig with 100 people present, who have never seen you before, and more than 1 person loves your performance, you are doing very well.  Even so, you may have 9 out of ten people who probably don't like you much. 

Creating a following

This is why its difficult.  If a star like Des O'Connor had such a small percentage, you will have to persuade your very small following to turn up at your gig, and gradually build up the numbers.

A Cliff Richard concert

I went to a Cliff Richard concert and bumped into a friend.  I said, "I didn't know you liked Cliff Richard".  He said, "I don't like him, the wife does".  I then realised that even if all the seats are sold, not everybody is a fan.  The numbers count!