you would find their voice and music incredible.
I mean, I was thinking about how the vision we have of artists is often created by their physical appearance and video clips etc.

My daughter tells me that Daft Punk never appears on camera, they try to have electronic voices and stuff. They must be trying to avoid a personality cult. Their clips are with cartoon characters.

Would Madonna be as popular if she weren't so physically attractive?
Would Michael Jackson be revered if he didn't have such an odd stage persona?

Are there any artists who stand on their own merits?

All of my favorites are about the least good looking in the industry. I think many do stand on their merits alone. James Talyor is not attractive to me but a great musician, Paul Simon is another one, Bob Dylan (I'm not a big fan but appreciate his talent). I agree many are helped by being attractive but I still have hope that if you have the talent that you can be successful.

Yeah, well Dan Fogelberg is to die for though, I mean, those eyes!

Alex Lloyd - not a pretty man at all. But he is such a beautiful singer/songwriter. I love him! I love him! I love him!

...Sorry!

But I think it's easier for the guys than the girls,in my opinion at least....

Back in the day, Before MTV and VH1, the singers of my favorite music, (hard rock, heavy metal) were all Butt-ugly

Ozzy, Bonn Scott, Joey Ramone, Lemmi none of these guys would ever make the cover of GQ.

As the music video infected er influenced the radio and eventually other media, the front-men eventually got better looking, David Lee Roth, Vince Neil, Jon BonJovi. Some of them were actually good performers others just got by on their looks, and many one hit wonder bands fell by the wayside.

Now the pendulum seems to be swinging the other direction, most of what passes for hard rock now seems to be created by the tattooed and pierced self styled freaks of nature.
Marilyn Manson et al.

But for most of the POP, R&B, Country Western, and more "main-stream" music yes Looks are a must. Yes there will be exceptions but not very many.

Video Killed The Radio Star you mean War Wizard?

Maybe I'm just getting old but it's a long long time since I bought any music based on what the artist looked like! I think that sort of thing just goes to show how superficial the music industry is nowadays!

Of course if they looke great it's an added bonus but not the be all and end all!

Laugh at me now, Bruyere, I never found Fogelberg attractive. He is not bad looking but never a poster boy to me. Just love the voice, the writing and his musicianship. As a person, he is a bit moody for me. I feel I have seen him at his best and worst. 1987 (threw a tirade at his concert in Nashville), then the last two times I have seen him he seems to have mellowed a bit.

I'm laughing for sure! But if you've seen him pitch a hissy fit then I guess I understand you.
I guess I attract the moody ones anyhow!
Now you're going to tell me Mel Gibson is a jerk too? Leave me someone to admire!
I've got a few French stars I like, no worries.

There's this one fellow who's a rising star in France, I really like his music and when you look at him, you wonder how they've managed to promote him as he's just so ordinary looking. Even the kids like his stuff and yet he doesn't indulge in any antics or wear anything but comfortable ordinary clothes!
I guess there's room for "real" people.

There are some people who wouldn't be popular if it weren't for their looks or their stage persona.

I know nothing of Mel Gibson, so his reputation remains in tact for you to adore. I totally agree on the point that some people are primarily popular for their looks (i.e. Brittney Spears-give me Annie Lennox any day). But I also understand that in the age of video, sometimes you are expected to look a certain way. It is interesting when some groups make it despite being "gorgeous". I think groups like Blues TRaveller are a great example. Most of the artists I like were all reday legends befor ethe video age so it is pretty hard to kill them off. Others have found unique ways of making their videdos even making fun of themselves (Tom Petty as the Mad Hatter-very fitting) (get the boy some braces).