When you play music with someone who has a heart rather than playing with someone who is just doing it for money or is cynical it makes all the difference.
However, the radio and national media depend much more on the hype from a good record label, and from a ' buzz ' about a band, then from just one or two good shows. There are a lot of artists that have a ton of good press going for them, and still do not make it big in the US.

