A couple of years ago, I noticed music blogs were taking the place of print magazines in quotes used by labels on promotional material and one-sheets (the informational sheets used for an album or single in the course of business). Music blogs were usually the first to write about underground bands, and small labels, in need of some quotes, starting using music blog attention as a selling point.

Yesterday I got an email with this headline:

"Trilobite Named Stereogum’s 'Band To Watch', Leader Mark Ray Lewis Wins O.Henry and Pushcart Literary Awards Following Nomination By Joyce Carol Oates."

One of these days, a music retailer will have a Stereogum endcap. Just wait.

Nothing stokes the fires of publicity like awards. On the day Grammy nominees were announced, two other emails arrived in my inbox:

"EMI MUSIC EARNS 43 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS"

Yes, all caps. Less than two hours later, this one arrived:

"Warner Music Group Receives 105 Grammy Nominations"

Nothing from market share leader Universal Music Group yet, but I'd bet they topped 105.