what are sellouts?

Question

I need to know what exactly a sellout is. i hear it all the time but not sure what it means

Answer 1

The truth is it's an equivalent to a make-over..They gained enough success doing their music their way, that they capture special attention. Record executives attempt to make them over to fit the mainstream and pop culture, by changing their appearance, over-production of their newer music, bring in big name producers and outside professional Songwriters..they are polished to appeal to a much bigger audience and get the big money pay-off, but they lose most of their original underground following, but compared to what they gained? It doesn't really matter to them! That's selling out, when you disassociate yourself from the original fan-base that got you there for more Fame & Money!

WS

Answer 2

In the punk world any success is a sellout. I don;t buy that. If you make some music and lots of people like it and buy it. Why are you called a sellout?
A sellout to me is an artist who purposely write songs that fit a certian mold. An artist who has made music there way and it happens to sell that's a bonus.

Answer 3

Hah! I've heard of all the people mentioned from the first post except Pigface, and listen too all the others but Crass! I guess that makes me a part of the underground then? But I agree, except that GG Allen was also a horrible horrible person and the world is better for him being gone. That said I must admit I quite like his early work, "Don't Talk To Me" is great. Crass have always kinda bored me to be honest, but I guess it's true they never sold out either.

And a sellout is some one who does what they do solely for the money and not because they want to get their thoughts/ideas out there or change anything, they just want to get rich. So we're talking most mainstream music (not all of them, some artists, contrary to popualr belief, are actually famous because they're good!) and virtually all rap, who blatantly state they just do it for the money. well still trying to look "ghetto". Some bands get pegged as sellouts because they want to sell records, which isn't true. A lot of bands (like the Ramones for example) desperately wanted to be popular and have hit songs, but just to get their music out there. They just wanted as many people as possible to hear their music, and I think that any artist who says that's not true is just trying to keep some kind of imaginary credibility. A sellout on the other hand, will have music that sounds exactly like what's popular, have lots of advertising, have the newest haircut and clothes, and yes, often appear on MTV as cliché as that sounds.

Answer 4

A sellout is an artist for profit, not for the sake of the art. Almost all artists on MTV and in the mainstream media are sellouts. Music artists who are not sellouts are ones you're unlikely to hear of: Crass, GG Allin, Pigface, Patti Smith, Leonard Cohen, etc.

Answer 5

Usually that term is associated with an event where tickets are sold. When an event becomes a "sellout", that means that all available tickets have been purchased and that no one else can buy any. The event is sold out, thus the term sellout.

Answer 6

Selling out refers to the compromising of one's integrity, morality and principles in exchange for money, 'success' or other personal gain. It is commonly associated with attempts to increase mass appeal or acceptability to mainstream society. A person who does this, as opposed to following the original path s/he laid (or claimed to lay) out for him/herself, is labeled a sellout and regarded with disgust and immediate loss of respect. Selling out is seen as gaining success at the cost of credibility. Every person, from the entertainment industry, to political revolutionaries, to a Bohemian who suddenly switches to a socially conservative lifestyle, could be a sellout.

Answer 7

The easy definition is when a performer or group sacrifices art strictly for money. Sometimes this label gets applied too liberally, especially when an underground band finally breaks through and becomes successful.

Answer 8

Sell outs are what I think are bands/people who were once good but because of fame and fortune they pretty much suck and sing total mainstream songs. For example Fall Out Boy :D Buts that's just my opinion so no need to get mad.

Answer 9

A band that changes their appearance/music to fit what is mainstream. Also a band like Greenday, which claims to be punk and yet is sponsored by a huge corporation.

Answer 10

a term to use when a band thinks money is more important than the music. or when a band changes their sound to get more money.