Hmmm.........
I would say it had the opposite effect on me as I was just getting into soul and wondering what "Northern Soul" was when it broke. I decided this wasn't for me!
A short while later, I started going to Wigan but had a hard time convincing non-soulie mates that this wasn't a "northern" record and that we didn't spent all night "doing the footsie" as they put it.
The record undoubtedly attracted people to the scene, but not me. In fact I went in spite of it. It also put a lot of people off going and made a bit of a joke of the whole thing (as did Wayne Gibson, Nosmo King et al).
The scene at that time didn't really need a boost, I would have thought that a far more beneficial phase was the mod revival of a few years later which definately revitalised a flagging scene imho.
As to the general point, yes, we need media involvement to boost interest. Unfortunately these days, the media coverage is more of a "piss taking" variety..........and whose fault is that?
Good topic Winnie, got me thinking.
John.