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Be Honest: Would You Ever Sell-Out?
- Thread starter bogey_j
- Start date
My drummer, who loves some pop-rock, made an interesting statement on this subject...
"I don't consider it selling out, I say it's buying in."
"I don't consider it selling out, I say it's buying in."
Roy Vogt
Supporting Member
- Sep 20, 2000
- 4,433
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- Endorsing Artist: Kiesel Basses, Ampeg Amplification, Hotone Ampero II effects
It's not called the Music Friends, the Music Cool, or the Music Nice, it's called the Music Business. Just sayin'.....
Haha, yeah. I know I irritate my bandmates by not being interested in fame, not very interested in money, and very interested in playing Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Miranda Lambert songs because I like them.
I think people's understanding of selling out changes as they get older. In my opinion there's nothing wrong with making a living. To me the whole artistic integrity thing has really started to look like a diva position. You don't need to put all of your eggs in one basket, anyone who's played in cover bands knows that it's not always about what you want to play, and there is a lot of joy to be found in playing top 40 music. But that doesn't mean that you can't have other vehicles for your own vision of music. When I talk to people with "artistic integrity" it generally tends to be a "my way or the highway" type attitude towards music.
I would sell out. I would buy a house, move in with my girlfriend, pay off my mother's mortgage, and enjoy not having to work over 8 hours a day in crap jobs to get by, and I would use that extra time to write, play, and study music and enjoy life.
I would sell out. I would buy a house, move in with my girlfriend, pay off my mother's mortgage, and enjoy not having to work over 8 hours a day in crap jobs to get by, and I would use that extra time to write, play, and study music and enjoy life.
"Selling Out" is kind of a nothing term. If the label is paying you to write a certain type of music and wear certain clothes, you're an employee. The end.
Also, "Artist Integrity" is a crock. Shakespeare, one of the most highly regarded English speaking artists of all time, had patrons. He wrote what they paid him to write.
Also, "Artist Integrity" is a crock. Shakespeare, one of the most highly regarded English speaking artists of all time, had patrons. He wrote what they paid him to write.
I don't really believe anyone wouldn't do it if given the chance, unless they're living under their parents roof and not paying their own way yet.
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Employees can quit. If the label is requiring that I write/perform music that I don't like I'll find another label that will let me write/perform music that I like or just keep writing/performing music that I like without a label. Same as if my job sucks I'm going to find a new job.
I don't chalk up my opinion on this to "artistic integrity"... Life's too short to do things you don't like.
Yeah but most regular jobs don't require a contract so depending on what you sign it may not be that easy...
I'd sell out with the hopes that it would later lead to freedom. But... I'm also terrible so why wouldn't I?
Who says you can't like the music they're paying you to write? Just because you're manufacturing pop doesn't mean you don't enjoy it. Music is music, and my expirience is that it takes much less energy to like it than it does to dislike it.
Nobody. I don't consider that selling out though. IMO, selling out is writing music that you don't like in order to get paid.
I have been selling out for 40 years playing cover songs for peanuts. Where do I sign up for fame and fortune? I am way overdue.
