Charli XCX, known for her culture-shaping artistry, expressed her deep admiration for The Velvet Underground during her acceptance speech at Variety’s Hitmakers Awards on Saturday (Dec. 7). While receiving the Hitmaker of the Year honor, largely due to the success of her 2024 album Brat, Charli used the platform to redefine the concept of a “hit.”
“In March 1967, The Velvet Underground & Nico released their album The Velvet Underground & Nico,” she began. “It debuted on the Billboard 200 at Number 199. And a few weeks later, it rose to its peak position of 195. But don’t worry, it dropped out, but then it re-entered the charts. And later in life, Lou Reed told Brian Eno that it had only sold around 30,000 copies over its first five years.”
She argued that the album, despite its initial commercial struggles, epitomizes what a true “hit” should be. “In my humble opinion, this record is the definition of a hit. This record is arguably one of the most influential and groundbreaking records of our time,” Charli explained. “This album is the apex of fine art and DIY culture colliding. It’s high and low, it’s poetry meets drugs, it’s earnest meets arrogance, and even if you’ve never heard a single song from this album, you’ll undoubtedly recognize its cover, either from the walls of a modern art gallery or from the shop floor of an Urban Outfitters.”
Charli cheekily added, “And let’s be real, what is a hit if you’re not conquering both of those places? My album cover has not yet appeared at the Guggenheim or the Whitney or the Tate. However, some of my merch is available to purchase right now in Urban Outfitters. So I guess that means that I’m halfway there.”
The Velvet Underground’s debut album initially peaked at No. 195 upon its release and later re-entered the Billboard charts in 1967, reaching No. 171. In 2013, the record achieved its highest peak to date at No. 129.
The frequently cited quote from Brian Eno—that The Velvet Underground & Nico sold only 30,000 copies in its first five years, but “everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band”—has also been challenged. Research suggests over 58,000 copies were sold by February 1969, with estimates reaching as high as 200,000 copies by 1971.
For comparison, Charli XCX’s Brat debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 in June, moving 40,000 album units in its first week—a testament to the ever-evolving definition of a hit in music.
