sellout bands

sparky_fry

I'm just posting here to say my take on "selloout" bands. It seems to me that when a rock band rises up from mediocrity and make it big they are immediately titled sellouts. I think this is a factor into what has become pop music these days. Hip-hop singers are immediately produced to be stars (rihanna, lady gaga etc.) while if a rock bad comes on the scene in such a way they are not respected by any rock fans despite how good there music is. It seems the only good bands now are those who are still alive from the 90's (ex. pearl jam) or those who take years to make, but when they finally do are labeled as sellouts (ex. Kings of leon) anyway just my take on it all. any opinions?

catefrances

define sell out.

sparky_fry

catefrances wrote:

define sell out.

"Selling out" refers to the perception that someone is compromising their integrity, morality, or principles in exchange for money or "success" (however defined). It is commonly associated with attempts to tailor material to a mainstream audience. Any artist who expands their creative path to encompass a wider audience, as opposed to continuing in the genre and venues of their initial success, may be disdainfully labeled by disapproving fans as a sellout. Sometimes a sellout is seen as a person that is disloyal to one's group that he or she belongs (usually ethnic group) in order to gain money or become "successful". Selling out is often seen as gaining success at the cost of credibility.



my point is that if a band makes it big they are usually labeled as a sellout because they are mainstream. Maybe by becoming mainstream the band is changing what mainstream is, not necessarily selling out like many people think.

joely_91

I think about it and wouldnt soundgarden be sellouts for how popular they became with commercial hits like black hole sun and spoonman?

stipe19

First of all Rihanna and Lady Gaga are NOT HIP HOP. But for the most part, fans of a band think a band " sells out' when they are played on top100 radio stations. A lot of music "snobs" like to think if a band is played on the radio they suck or sold out. My favorite example of a band "selling out" is Guns n Roses. Their debut album was selling GREAT around the world. And "no one" ever heard of them. Then all of a sudden, a year and a half later, sweet child o mine gets played on the radio. And bingo they become the biggest band in the world. And all of a sudden, their original fans said they "sold out". Does a band sell out when they say they will NEVER make another video then make a video for the fixer? Does a band sell out when they make a deal to only sell their new cd through itunes and Target and their own website? Does a band sellout when the lead singer puts down corporate America and the modeling industry and then marries a former model? Or does a band sell out when you cant get a ticket to the show cause its SOLD OUT!!!!! Just enjoy the music bro. Cause at the end of the day you either like the song or you dont.

joely_91

stipe19 wrote:

First of all Rihanna and Lady Gaga are NOT HIP HOP. But for the most part, fans of a band think a band " sells out' when they are played on top100 radio stations. A lot of music "snobs" like to think if a band is played on the radio they suck or sold out. My favorite example of a band "selling out" is Guns n Roses. Their debut album was selling GREAT around the world. And "no one" ever heard of them. Then all of a sudden, a year and a half later, sweet child o mine gets played on the radio. And bingo they become the biggest band in the world. And all of a sudden, their original fans said they "sold out". Does a band sell out when they say they will NEVER make another video then make a video for the fixer? Does a band sell out when they make a deal to only sell their new cd through itunes and Target and their own website? Does a band sellout when the lead singer puts down corporate America and the modeling industry and then marries a former model? Or does a band sell out when you cant get a ticket to the show cause its SOLD OUT!!!!! Just enjoy the music bro. Cause at the end of the day you either like the song or you dont.

exactly

eddiec

Often times a bands commercial success (sellouts) offers them the opportunity to write the music they really want to. Just remember, a band with longevity becomes the full time job of the members of that band.. Who wants a job that doesn't pay you any money? They have kids also. Look at PJ. Their instant commercial success afforded them the financial stability to write whatever they wanted on subsequent albums. It is so hard to crack the music industry you would be a fool not to record a hit song. From there you can go in the direction you want but at least you won't have to give up music because the bills force you to take a job at Walmart.

facepollution

I think the term is pretty redundant to be honest. So many people sit at home trying to judge a band's intentions, but very rarely do people ever actually KNOW why a band might suddenly change the direction of their music. Take Kings Of Leon as an example. So many people have jumped on the bandwagon and called them sellouts because their music has become more mainstream and the way that they now choose to dress. First up, how many people can honestly say they're still dressing the same way they did eight years ago? And muscially speaking, if you read the band's interviews, they have repeatedly said that they've just made the music that they felt like playing at the time. Compare Sex On Fire to something like Cold Desert from their last record - they're two completely disparate songs, which totally backs up their claim.

sl13145

Metallica = sell outs

Digital Twilight

sl13145 wrote:

Metallica = sell outs

Care to give some reasons because I don't think they are.

Red Lukin

#1 and #2 on the lost should be:

1) U2
2) Kings of Leon

That was easy

keeponrockin

Why the Gaga bashing? Putting her in the same sentence in Rhianna is insulting to Gaga.

g under p

Red Lukin wrote:

#1 and #2 on the lost should be:

1) U2
2) Kings of Leon

That was easy

What does this mean?

Peace

g under p

sl13145 wrote:

Metallica = sell outs

Yes they do, most places they play around the world.

Peace

g under p

joely_91 wrote:

stipe19 wrote:

First of all Rihanna and Lady Gaga are NOT HIP HOP. But for the most part, fans of a band think a band " sells out' when they are played on top100 radio stations. A lot of music "snobs" like to think if a band is played on the radio they suck or sold out. My favorite example of a band "selling out" is Guns n Roses. Their debut album was selling GREAT around the world. And "no one" ever heard of them. Then all of a sudden, a year and a half later, sweet child o mine gets played on the radio. And bingo they become the biggest band in the world. And all of a sudden, their original fans said they "sold out". Does a band sell out when they say they will NEVER make another video then make a video for the fixer? Does a band sell out when they make a deal to only sell their new cd through itunes and Target and their own website? Does a band sellout when the lead singer puts down corporate America and the modeling industry and then marries a former model? Or does a band sell out when you cant get a ticket to the show cause its SOLD OUT!!!!! Just enjoy the music bro. Cause at the end of the day you either like the song or you dont.

exactly

I agree also, who are we to determine what criteria a band falls into to call them a sellout. There isn't a band out there that one couldn't say has so called sold-out in one way or another. Enjoy the music or move along.

Peace

eeriepadave

g under p wrote:

sl13145 wrote:

Metallica = sell outs

Yes they do, most places they play around the world.

Peace

I liked the Jason Newstead quote from VH1 Behind The Music when asked about selling out. "yes, we sell out, every seat in the house, everytime we play"

Not me personally, but a lot of people think these bands "sold out"
- Metallica
- Kings Of Leon
- Green Day
- Fall Out Boy/My Chemical Romance/Panic At The Disco (not a fan, but from what i've heard...)


and the next one I'm gonna go with is... The Black Keys

does this one count?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEKbFMvkLIc

Horos

Digital Twilight wrote:

sl13145 wrote:

Metallica = sell outs

Care to give some reasons because I don't think they are.

I will...

Metallica made 4 great albums, with the 4th they decided they weren't getting the recognition they wanted and gave in to the MTV generation and made the One video. It was nice at the time to finally see them with a video but then they followed it up with the sell-out radio friendly Black album. Not more epic songs just a bunch of similar sounding crap with the topper being Nothing Else Matters.

whygohome

According to the criteria for some, every band has sold out. If you sign a record deal with a major label, then you sold out. if you release a single to be played on the radio, then you sold out. If you make a video to be played on MTV or VH1, then you sold out. if a song appears on a commercial or in a TV show, then you sold out. If you win a Grammy, then you sold out.

The "true" fans want their bands to continue to play dive bars and small venues. They want them to release albums online for $10 or for $1 per song.

What about the band? What if a band has five members? What if those five band members have families?
There is too much to consider when the discussion of whether or not a band "sold out" is had.

The ultimate question is: what would you do if you were in a band?

Horos

whygohome wrote:

According to the criteria for some, every band has sold out. If you sign a record deal with a major label, then you sold out. if you release a single to be played on the radio, then you sold out. If you make a video to be played on MTV or VH1, then you sold out. if a song appears on a commercial or in a TV show, then you sold out. If you win a Grammy, then you sold out.

The "true" fans want their bands to continue to play dive bars and small venues. They want them to release albums online for $10 or for $1 per song.

What about the band? What if a band has five members? What if those five band members have families?
There is too much to consider when the discussion of whether or not a band "sold out" is had.

The ultimate question is: what would you do if you were in a band?

Sell-out, duh!!!

Digital Twilight

Horos wrote:

Digital Twilight wrote:

sl13145 wrote:

Metallica = sell outs

Care to give some reasons because I don't think they are.

I will...

Metallica made 4 great albums, with the 4th they decided they weren't getting the recognition they wanted and gave in to the MTV generation and made the One video. It was nice at the time to finally see them with a video but then they followed it up with the sell-out radio friendly Black album. Not more epic songs just a bunch of similar sounding crap with the topper being Nothing Else Matters.

Well 1st off That video was making a statement if you didn't notice. 2nd people's opinions change over the years, i'm sure you have had many change yourself. They said at one point that they would never make a video to adhere to one POV. Maybe down the line they just thought 'whats the harm'?

IF Metallica made the Black album just to make money then you could say they sold out but it's whether they did for those reasons. Just because they made something a little more radio friendly doesn't mean they just want money, maybe they just wanted to do something different after 4 albums? Would Metallica even be around if they didn't change? Did Pearl Jam sell out with Avocado and Backspacer because they were more radio friendly then Riot Act? Maybe it was just the natural evolution of the band? It always seems to come down to the band itsn't making the music THEY want them to anymore and just because it's a little easy on the ear it means they did it for money. Just don't buy it.

I guess we will never know for sure, we don't know these guys minds but i'm not sure I buy that Metallica sold out.

Horos

I don't give a fuck if they are still around I was buying those first albums when they came out. After the And Justice For All the rest is shit.

And what's that statement they were making with the video. They've never been interested in making a statement unless it's don't steal our music or we will sue you. If that doesn't spell SELL-OUT then I don't know what does. And please don't give me the same old 'they have families to support' argument. I hear enough of the on the Porch.

JOEJOEJOE

sparky_fry wrote:

I'm just posting here to say my take on "selloout" bands. It seems to me that when a rock band rises up from mediocrity and make it big they are immediately titled sellouts. I think this is a factor into what has become pop music these days. Hip-hop singers are immediately produced to be stars (rihanna, lady gaga etc.) while if a rock bad comes on the scene in such a way they are not respected by any rock fans despite how good there music is. It seems the only good bands now are those who are still alive from the 90's (ex. pearl jam) or those who take years to make, but when they finally do are labeled as sellouts (ex. Kings of leon) anyway just my take on it all. any opinions?

In most cases, pop stars have shorter careers, so they always try to strike while the iron is hot. They are formulated acts made to appeal to as many people as possible, hence the term "pop star".

Many bands from the 90s seemed to go for the quick buck, and it really killed their credibility. Examples are Everclear, Sugar Ray and Smashmouth.

Digital Twilight

Horos wrote:

I don't give a fuck if they are still around I was buying those first albums when they came out. After the And Justice For All the rest is shit.

And what's that statement they were making with the video. They've never been interested in making a statement unless it's don't steal our music or we will sue you. If that doesn't spell SELL-OUT then I don't know what does. And please don't give me the same old 'they have families to support' argument. I hear enough of the on the Porch.

You sound like a little bitter child here. They stopped making the music YOU wanna here so you just spat your dummy out :roll:

Please explain why standing up for your music is selling out? You would be pretty miffed if a % of your paycheck went AWOL every month.

as for the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzgGTTtR0kc

Can't really miss it.

InHiding80

Aerosmith easily

JOEJOEJOE

InHiding80 wrote:

Aerosmith easily

Aerosmith sold out in the worst way....they changed their musical style in order to sell more records and get on movie soundtracks. Lots of bands toy with power ballads, etc, but if you totally leave behind your old sound to do so, it is a bit dodgy!

I see no problem with allowing your songs to be used for tv/movies/ads...as long as the band doesn't tweak their music in order to do so.