What do you think of sell-out bands?

Question

I personally don't mind sell out bands but what really gets my blood boiling is those preps who claim they heard of a band before their huge break. What do you think of sell out bands?

Answer 1

The only term that gets more misuse than the emo label is the sell-out one. Seems like it gets slapped on any artist simply because:

1. They sign to a major label.
2. They change their sound slightly.
3. They become more popular.

The only way I define it is when an artist becomes so horrible as to sacrifice their talent strictly for economic reasons. I understand that we all need to eat and live. However, some examples are so blatant. Here are a couple true sell-outs.

The Goo-Goo Dolls - they started out like a carbon copy of the Replacements. Then they realized if they made music that sounded more like the City of Angels soundtrack, they could be rich. Now they are useless.

Liz Phair - she went from indie cover girl with outrageous lyrics to adult-alternative pap in the blink of an eye. Her transformation was shocking but not in a good way. She readily admits to it, but it's of little consolation to fans.

Answer 2

There really isn't such a thing as sell-out bands (well, to a point), as the goal of a band is to make good music, and truly, to make at least some money to live on. and if you make good music, then people will buy your record, so I don't know where "selling out" comes to play. It is, after all, a career. And if you make a great record and a lot of people buy it, then it's not like you're "selling out", you're just making good music.

However, there are bands that just produce commercial suitable-for-radio crap, but those bands shouldn't be given any attention whatsoever.

For a good overall sumup on this you should listen to, or at least read the lyrics to the following song, as it is about this topic:

Hooker with a Penis by the band Tool.

Answer 3

It depends on the attitude they have post selling out. I think you lose the right to be incredibly pretentious, because...well you've sold out. I actually think it's kind of funny when a band sells out and has a sense of humor about it. And even if they do act pretentious it doesn't make me mad it's just incredibly tacky.
I'm actually really happy for Liz Phair for instance. She's paid her dues and deserves to make some money (man that "Why Can't I" song is terrible though). She doesn't pull her punches about it and I can respect her decision. I'm in a band and we joke about how we would really love the opportunity to sell out.
I also think that people don't know what selling out is half the time. If you get popular for sounding like you sound you haven't sold out. If you evolve in a direction that makes you more popular you haven't sold out. Now, if you consciously change your sound to sell records then thats something. If you write songs or hand out quotes about how horrible commercialism is and then a couple years later you're selling Gap clothes... If you're doing what you're doing and Capital comes knockin and they want to make you tons of money for doing just that you'd be a moron to turn them down, and not the least bit unethical for taking them up.

Answer 4

A band that stands out for me when I think of sell out would be The Suicide Machines because their first 2 albums were solid punk-ska but that third release...what the #%&*!!?

It's very difficult to figure if a band is selling out or simply just changing pace but in the case of The Suicide Machines, it was incredibly obvious that some devil in a suit and tie offered them an obsene amount of money to play more radio friendly punk in order to make them and the record company millions.

It's when a band sacrafices their creative integrity for $ that they sell out and it's usually the bands and the record companys that know that better than any of us.

Answer 5

I don't like it when a band I like changes their style altogether but it's not for me or you to tell them what to play if they want to play a different kind of music than when they started it still doesn't change the other music they have made, just listen to the their old stuff or find a band more suiting the style you like.
Sell-out is a harsh word though, after you get famous I don't think it is wrong to experiment with your sound. Sometimes keeping your sound fresh and new is what makes or breaks your musical career. you just have to know what sounds work for your band without losing to many of you hard core fans.

Answer 6

It's tough to remain a "non" sell out band. How do you keep playing show after show in small clubs, making album after album, and not eventually get a shot at a major label?

Would you turn down millions of future dollars and fans doing the same exact thing you were doing playing in small clubs???

Answer 7

Are band pins comparable to badges? if so each band merchandise shop sells them, they're tremendously decrease priced often coming in packs of three for 2 funds. let us know which city you reside in and that i'm particular somebody would know of a merchandise shop interior the section.

Answer 8

it depends of what you consider sell out. there is only one band i would call sell-outs and that's metallica. not because they got big or popular (which seems to be the way most people define sell out) but because they came out and flat out said they don't care about their fans, they just care about the music. that whole napster thing. no, i don't download music illegally because i respect the bands and want to support them, but they did it all wrong. they showed nothing but disrespect to their fans.

Answer 9

Depends. If a Sell-Out makes good music i'll listen but I will probably hate them for being sell-outs. e.g. FOB, I like their music but think the members are a bit gay and ***holes for selling out.

Answer 10

i hate them like i do to bands like fall out boy and my chemical romance i used to like them but once they were all over MTV and all over i hated them