GloriaJ's message was cogent but missed the mark on two points.
While some brave souls may buy a panned product, they are not the norm and how do you imagine an artist feels, receiving a bashing for a project he put his heart and cash into?
Also, a review may have little effect on saales in the artist's home market, where most sales are at performances, but reviews are very important for breaking int new markets. I have introduced, to the Philadelphia audience, dozens of wonderful musicians who had been, previously, unknown here. That's what I'm here for. That's why people send me their CDs.
You know that, even if an artist is well known in his own land, he may be "who's that?" here. That was the case with the great Cyril Tawney, whose work I have been championing for years and, as a result, enjoyed a nice sale in my neck of the woods. (I am not taking credit for his success. I was privelaged to be the bearer of his tidings.)
Still, maybe GloriaJ shouldn't send me a CD for review. I never pan or carp so my reviews would bore her to tears.