The media went crazy when it found out that RCA had signed singer Sandi Thom after her webcasts were heard by a reported 100,000-plus around the world.

Were we taken for a publicity ride?

A thread at the Velvet Rope and a post at Chartreuse explains that Thom wasn't just discovered and signed after building a webcast fanbase.

Thom signed a publishing deal last year with Windswept/Pacific Music Publishing, who has big name clients such as Beyonce, Pete Townshend, Talib Kweli and Craig David. And those 70,000 webcast listeners Thom was said to reach from her basement? Scrutinization hasn't been kind to Thom. Spikes in traffic have been explained to coincide with press releases and articles about her rags-to-riches story. Thom is said to have the financial backing and has her PR done by Quite Great PR.

Same story, different spin.