--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd rather sell 10,000 records that…" description: "\"I'd rather sell 10,000 records that represent me than 2 million that don't represent me at all.\" — Phillip Phillips" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/phillip-phillips-30515_records_i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-repr_1342291.jpg" --- # I'd rather sell 10,000 records that represent me than 2… ![“I'd rather sell 10,000 records that represent me than 2 million that don't represent me at all.” quote by Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/phillip-phillips-30515_records_i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-repr_1342291.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/phillip-phillips-30515_records_i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-repr_1342291.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/phillip-phillips-30515_records_i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-repr_1342291.jpg) > “I'd rather sell 10,000 records that represent me than 2 million that don't represent me at all.” [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authentic artistic success matters more than massive but shallow commercial achievement. **In simple terms:** Prefer authentic records over huge sales. Key Takeaway Choose authenticity over quantity. Themes authenticity artistic integrity success Mood inspirational determined Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - album releases - concerts - fan engagement - marketing strategy Key Concepts music industry personal brand creative fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What defines true artistic success? - How to stay authentic under market pressure? A Different Perspective Commercial pressure may force compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [000 Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/000-records-1037908/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) [Records Represent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records-represent-4535082/) [Represent Million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/represent-million-4538976/) [Sell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sell/) [Sell 10](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sell-10-2101740/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [If I was going to sell out, I would do it for more than 10,000 records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it-for-more-than-10-000-records/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [We've sold over 100,000 records so far, and we're an independent label.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hanson/we-ve-sold-over-100-000-records-so-far-and-we-re-an-independent-label/) [Isaac Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hanson/) > [I think 'Slippery When Wet' was the turning point, where our records represent our energy that we do live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bryan/i-think-slippery-when-wet-was-the-turning-point-where-our-records/) [David Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bryan/) > [That's what records do: represent a compressed, heightened version of the sound. Because of the compression of the tubes and microphones and the wax,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ry-cooder/that-s-what-records-do-represent-a-compressed-heightened-version-of/) [Ry Cooder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ry-cooder/) > [Nobody's going to sell 10 million records by not working hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/nobody-s-going-to-sell-10-million-records-by-not-working-hard/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [You can be in the Bay and sell 10,000 copies of independent records and make 50 grand and that's your job for the year.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/you-can-be-in-the-bay-and-sell-10-000-copies-of-independent-records/) [Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/) > [“After the war, it just seemed natural to take what you could take wherever you could take it. There was only so much blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/after-the-war-it-just-seemed-natural-to-take-what-you-could-take/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [This is how a group can sell 10 million records and be broke, and everybody get ready to do your math. There are 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-left-eye/this-is-how-a-group-can-sell-10-million-records-and-be-broke-and/) [Lisa Left Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-left-eye/) > [“Please sell $10,000 worth of stock — we have decided to lead a mad and extravagant life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crosby/please-sell-10-000-worth-of-stock-we-have-decided-to-lead-a-mad-and/) [Harry Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crosby/) > [But I remember we sold nearly 18,000 records in one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/but-i-remember-we-sold-nearly-18-000-records-in-one-day/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [I love it when people say things to me in public and want to meet me, because I want to meet them! Early on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-love-it-when-people-say-things-to-me-in-public-and-want-to-meet-me/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [I make an embarrassing amount of money for a borderline Marxist, just by selling 100,000 records. I don't sell millions of records, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-make-an-embarrassing-amount-of-money-for-a-borderline-marxist-just/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I've got a core audience, so regardless of what I put out, I can sell 100,000 records on an independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-ve-got-a-core-audience-so-regardless-of-what-i-put-out-i-can-sell/) [Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/) > [I don't think most rock stars are particularly calculating. I don't think they sit there and think, 'I will do this; therefore, on Monday,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hepworth/i-don-t-think-most-rock-stars-are-particularly-calculating-i-don-t/) [David Hepworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hepworth/) > [I'm not the cool thing, and I'm not going to be the cool thing for a really long time, and it isn't like I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-m-not-the-cool-thing-and-i-m-not-going-to-be-the-cool-thing-for-a/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) ## More by Phillip Phillips > [Sometimes when we fall in love there simply is no going back. There's not turning back to the people we once were or simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/sometimes-when-we-fall-in-love-there-simply-is-no-going-back-there-s/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [I get scared as crap to perform but I push myself to do it. I don't know what I would be doing without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-get-scared-as-crap-to-perform-but-i-push-myself-to-do-it-i-don-t/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [I have no idea why I won, man. I guess some people liked the music that I was doing. I'm just lucky. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-have-no-idea-why-i-won-man-i-guess-some-people-liked-the-music-that/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [It started last year, during the summer. I went to the doctor and they found out it was kidney stones, so they had surgery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/it-started-last-year-during-the-summer-i-went-to-the-doctor-and-they/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [I've just been recording mostly acoustic stuff, drums, and sax, and electric guitar. I'm just still writing songs and what not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-ve-just-been-recording-mostly-acoustic-stuff-drums-and-sax-and/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [“I'm gonna make this place your home”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-m-gonna-make-this-place-your-home/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [I have two belly buttons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-have-two-belly-buttons/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [Just know you're not alone, 'cause I'm gonna make this place your home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/just-know-you-re-not-alone-cause-i-m-gonna-make-this-place-your-home/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [A couple days ago, I saw a lot of people tweeting, 'Oh, it's so cool 'Home' is being used in the Olympics!' We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/a-couple-days-ago-i-saw-a-lot-of-people-tweeting-oh-it-s-so-cool-home/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [I didn't even want to sing, honestly. I started thinking about how long the journey was, how far all of us had come -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-didn-t-even-want-to-sing-honestly-i-started-thinking-about-how-long/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [“And I would do it for you, foryou Baby I'm not moving on I love you long after you're gone For you, for you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/and-i-would-do-it-for-you-foryou-baby-i-m-not-moving-on-i-love-you/) [phillip phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [I know what my sound is. I'm just trying to get it out there how I can explain it. I'm not trying to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-know-what-my-sound-is-i-m-just-trying-to-get-it-out-there-how-i-can/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [If you get lost, you can always be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/if-you-get-lost-you-can-always-be-found/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [Hold on to me as we go, as we roll down this unfamiliar road. And although this wave is stringing us along, just know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/hold-on-to-me-as-we-go-as-we-roll-down-this-unfamiliar-road-and/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [Settle down, it'll all be clear Don't pay no mind to the demons They fill you with fear The trouble it might drag you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/settle-down-it-ll-all-be-clear-don-t-pay-no-mind-to-the-demons-they/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) [Explore all 17 Phillip Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) ## More Records quotes > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [There are definite reference points to older Depeche Mode records.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/there-are-definite-reference-points-to-older-depeche-mode-records/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) > [There's no publicist, no advertisements, and no one's pushing us. If people are buying our records, it's because big brothers and sisters or friends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-moody/there-s-no-publicist-no-advertisements-and-no-one-s-pushing-us-if/) [Spencer Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-moody/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [Turn over the pages of history and read the damning record of the church's opposition to every advance in every field of science. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/turn-over-the-pages-of-history-and-read-the-damning-record-of-the/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [I like to make records sound good. I'm more like a reducer than a producer. If an artist cannot produce themselves, what's the point?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branford-marsalis/i-like-to-make-records-sound-good-i-m-more-like-a-reducer-than-a/) [Branford Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branford-marsalis/) > [One day I decided I would like to put a record into my system. So I picked up a record that was lying on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/one-day-i-decided-i-would-like-to-put-a-record-into-my-system-so-i/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Just for the record, how I feel right now is very terrific.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/just-for-the-record-how-i-feel-right-now-is-very-terrific/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/) [Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/) [Browse all 6,632 Records quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd rather sell 10,000 records that represent me than 2 million that don't represent me at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Phillip Phillips" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-represent-me-than-2-million-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Records" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-represent-me-than-2-million-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/phillip-phillips-30515_records_i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-repr_1342291.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/phillip-phillips-30515_records_i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-repr_1342291.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/phillip-phillips-30515_records_i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-repr_1342291.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd rather sell 10,000 records that represent me than 2 million that don't represent me at all.” — Phillip Phillips", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Phillip Phillips", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd rather sell 10,000 records that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-represent-me-than-2-million-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-represent-me-than-2-million-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```