Things that are popular appeal to the lowest common denominator. If they didn't then they wouldn't be popular. Thats why most media, such as music, deals with topic everyone can relate to, such as love. Its also why they deal with these topics simply and in a generally uncontroversial and conventional way.

If you do things differently then you risk alienating a good portion of the market, which would make it impossible to become popular in the first place.

I have actually seen someone use Britney Spears to get the point that popular games are crap. I even saw one guy use Titanic's ticket sales as a example. I think those guy's (especially the Titanic guy) are living in denial.

Although, I believe quality is defined by each individual separately depending on their unique needs. So popularity and quality are not equal or even proportunate.

Popularity does mean something though. It means most people value__________. To most people (all the people who bought_________)the quality is good.

Perhaps it can simply be said that popularity and quality are not synonymous, nor are they mutually exclusive.

If you're just gonna insult the greatest and most important band of all time instead of stating why you don't like it, at least have the respect of writing the name properly