That's the unfortunate predicament that Owl City found itself in. For many albums, Owl City was that odd independent artist that came into the spotlight with its different sound. Adam Young, the creator of Owl City, created music for the sake of creating music. Unfortunately, his music wasn't popular enough and he wasn't making enough money,so in his latest album "The Midsummer Station", his sound changed, in an effort to appeal to a wider fan-base. Becoming more like the other generic pop songs, the songs received negative reviews by his existing fans, hurting him even more. The lesson of the story is changing who you are isn't going to make you actually more popular. You are interesting as a person because you are unique, so don't try and fit in.
This may seem like just another hipster concept of going against the mainstream, but Shakespeare certainly got the concept. The highly intelligent Prince Hamlet often made fun of those who agreed with everything, mocking them with wordplay on their inability to make express their own thoughts. If an old English playwright understands the dullness of following what everyone else thinks, then you can too.
Be a musical hipster. I can assure, it's much more interesting.
-Kevin