What is right ?
Is not always popular , and what is popular ?
Is not always right .
I think the best way is to make a compromise. First you work for popularity because popularity sells. But you must always know that you are making a compromise. Then, after you gain enough popularity (there can be some measurable threshold) you can start working on being good. When you are popular people will forgive you “the change in the course” if you are good enough.
The biggest problem I see is that during the times of building your popularity you may start enjoying being popular and may forget your main goal – to be good.