OT: How are they doing this?

[Altec Best]

With today's digital gear anybody can afford quality.

But bear in mind quality and skills isn't everything. It's a matter of inspiration, quality, hard work...and a natural or learned sense of what resonates with people. There are millions of very skilled musicians living at near starvation wages, and many more at the top that are much less skilled. Lots of those at the top are only there for a short period.
Staying power takes a combination of factors, lots of others are at a lower level for years, only to catch fire.

I can cite, for instance, Bob Seger. I remember the Bob Seger System from the late 60's. Most of the industry wrote him off.

Suddenly he's a hit machine.

Steve Miller was a "one hit wonder" for years. And it wasn't even that big a hit. Of course being Les Paul's Godson didn't hurt him.

What makes a great recording? If you can bottle it name your price.

Great post!

I'd only add that sometimes, for some artists it is(or was) all about being at the right place in terms of the grand scale of time.

+2, I don't know how some of the musical artists today are even popular. I still think some of the Best Music has already been written I'm just "Old School" I guess...

Like Vintage Altecs ? I like Vintage music as well.They go great together !