What does selling out mean when describing a musical artist

[Blaster]

You hear the term selling out if a musician or band decides to record popular music. Actually there is no such thing as every band or artist that accepts payment for live concerts would apply. This is a dumb term used by folks that would rather a performer not be popular.

 

[Blaster]

Why is being successful considered a bad thing?

 

[1srelluc]

Well, there's Nickelback.

They did have one good song.




Odd that they are not mentioned here:

Top 10 Bands That Were Labeled 'Sellouts'

From Bring Me The Horizon's 'Amo' to 70's rock.

www.ultimate-guitar.com

 

[toobfreak]

Why is being successful considered a bad thing?

Frank Zappa covers the topic pretty well, that real musicians strive for art while pop musicians strive for fame and riches while just happening to use music just as the means to get there.

 

[Meathead]

You hear the term selling out if a musician or band decides to record popular music. Actually there is no such thing as every band or artist that accepts payment for live concerts would apply. This is a dumb term used by folks that would rather a performer not be popular.

It means the Bee Gees going disco.

 

[Blaster]

Frank Zappa covers the topic pretty well, that real musicians strive for music while pop musicians strive for fame and riches while just happening to use music as they means to get there.

So being a poor musician is a goal?

 

[Blaster]

It means the Bee Gees going disco.

I was born after Disco music was popular but some of it was pretty good.

 

[Fang]

I never cared for the term "sell out" in regards to musicians. It's been suggested by some that Rush sold out with Moving Pictures. Yet that album was so popular and Rush gained more fans. Those songs have stood the test of time.

 

[1srelluc]

I was born after Disco music was popular but some of it was pretty good.

This is supposedly when rap was done in a hit (disco) song.....1:55 in.

Shoulda nipped that shit in the bud but it was Blondie so.....

 

[Meathead]

I was born after Disco music was popular but some of it was pretty good.

Abba and the Village People, the rest was shit.

 

[Rawley]

You hear the term selling out if a musician or band decides to record popular music. Actually there is no such thing as every band or artist that accepts payment for live concerts would apply. This is a dumb term used by folks that would rather a performer not be popular.

When I think of selling out, I think of the ones that license their music to sell cars or beer or Depends.

 

[BackAgain]

I am guessing that when some musical snobs make any reference to a musician “selling out,” they are denigrating the artist for seeking to make money off his or her music by becoming a bit more commercial (rather than faithfully sticking with his or her prior musical style).

I don’t see that as “selling out.” Music isn’t a political philosophy or a religion.

 

[toobfreak]

So being a poor musician is a goal?

Being yourself is the goal. Expressing yourself artfully, experimentally is the goal. Maybe you will be successful, maybe hugely successful, maybe not at all. Success mainly comes through marketing, fitting into a niche created by the record industry to make themselves money. Pop musicians are mainly in it for the fame, money and glamor using the music just as the means of getting there.

I see very few pop musicians even doing music, even playing an instrument. The band is nowhere to be found. They dance around with a light show with wild costumes and put on a performance. That is piss poor music. But it sells to the braindead.

 

[Blaster]

Being yourself is the goal. Expressing yourself artfully, experimentally is the goal. Maybe you will be successful, maybe hugely successful, maybe not at all. Success mainly comes through marketing, fitting into a niche created by the record industry to make themselves money. Pop musicians are mainly in it for the fame, money and glamor using the music just as the means of getting there.

I see very few pop musicians even doing music, even playing an instrument. The band is nowhere to be found. They dance around with a light show with wild costumes and put on a performance. That is piss poor music. But it sells to the braindead.

You are describing the popular music of today and not the music of the 50's through the 90's.

 

[Blaster]

When I think of selling out, I think of the ones that license their music to sell cars or beer or Depends.

Folks like Paul McCartney?

 

[Rawley]

Folks like Paul McCartney?

Yep.

 

[GLASNOST]

You hear the term selling out if a musician or band decides to record popular music. Actually there is no such thing as every band or artist that accepts payment for live concerts would apply. This is a dumb term used by folks that would rather a performer not be popular.

I agree with you. I remember when Bob Dylan "went electric" and when Wes Montgomery sold out to whitey. Bull shit. Just bull shit.

 

[toobfreak]

You are describing the popular music of today and not the music of the 50's through the 90's.

Well, no. Formula bands have pretty much existed since the era of big band was over after WWII when the record labels really took over. It is just so much more prevalent today and obvious now because time, money and technology (light shows, internet marketing, etc.) have made it so much more easy to sell and lucrative.

 

[JOSweetHeart]

To me, selling out is when a person does one thing after saying that their intention is to do something that is absolutely nothing like what they decide to do in the end. In other words, I guess that they do not care if they end up being known for the lie that they chose to tell.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

 

[Harry Dresden]

Abba and the Village People, the rest was shit.

yea i like some of ABBA's early stuff....