I've discovered a great new game. It's difficult to find out how many records people sell, buit using this technique you can find out what kind if people buy what. I discovered this while looking up who stocks the Boat Band's "Trip to the Lakes", and found that on the HMV site if I looked up the record I found a listing called "customers also bought". This gave half a dozen CDs also bought by people who'd bought "Trip to the Lakes". I've no idea how the computer decides which 6, perhaps the most recent sales?
   Anyway, in the case of the Boat Band, the "customers also bought" search gave two Fairport Conventions, Carthy/Swarbrick, Klezmatics, Dartmoor Pixie Band, and Richard Thompson. I was surprised, and pleased, to see the latter, shows a bit of diversity. Though a bit of gangsta rap or garage would have been even more welcome.
   Anway, give it a try. Pick your perfomer that interests you, and type into google: "Joe Bloggs" "customers also bought" HMV. And the results for MHV come up. You can presumably do something similar for other CD retailers, I haven't tried yet.
    Do report back any curious anomalies. I must admit most that I have tried show people have rather predictable tastes!