"Only if you measure success by tickets and/or records sold."
That's a good measure of success I would say.
I am usually able to find something to like about pop music acts that either were at one time or are currently popular, at least if the popularity persists over an extended period. Also influence on future acts is another measure of success in the long term, I suppose.
Spectacle plays a big part in pop music, more so as time goes on it seems. Acts like BEP and Lady Gaga (including their producers and directors) are trail blazers in this regard.
That's the part that just is what it is to me.
One thing about BEPs, their CDs apply a lot of over the top electronic bass that I find exhilirating and was a big challenge to get a handle on in building my audio system. So in that sense BEPs recordings have played a significant part in my quest to enable my system to deliver with modern digital pop music. I owe them something for that at least I suppose.
Plus I still think Fergie is hot!