Home > Selling out

The phrase is often heard in the musical community, where it is used to imply that an artist has compromised their artistic integrity in order to gain radio airplay or obtain a recording contract , especially with a major label. Often, the label will force the style of a particular record producer on the performer, or insist on inclusion of songs by commercial songwriters. Or, the label may refuse to release an album, deeming it uncommercial, though this indicates that the artist or group maintained their standards or values.

Fans sometimes assume that any change in an artist's direction must be an attempt to appease record labels or to make more money through broader appeal. This may fail to account for natural artistic development, which may lead an artist in directions that their original fans disliked.

The accusation of selling out is often made against punk bands who sign to major labels, since punk has a cultural tradition of independence and doing it yourself. Similarly, it is often heard in the indie rock and metal communities, which like punk have a tradition of mainstream rejection and/or anticonsumerism. Metallica is perhaps metal's most famous supposed sellout. On the other hand, Metallica brought metal to the mass audience. Similarly, Bob Dylan outraged folk music purists by, in their view, selling out their favorite music for rock and roll. However, Dylan has changed direction repeatedly throughout his career.

It should be noted that many people see nothing wrong with tailoring a product to the tastes of its audience, or with taking practical and financial considerations into account when making art. A "sell out" show is a succesful show, and considered a compliment in theater. Selling out may be then gaining success at the cost of credibility.

Many songs have been written about selling out, including:

• "Hooker with a Penis" by Tool
• "Sell Out" by Reel Big FishCoast to Coast Roast show 2004. Reel Big Fish is a southern California ska- punk band who broke into the mainstream in the mid to late 1990s after the success of No Doubt and Sublime. Reel Big Fish is now more well known, but not quite mainstream in the U
• "Johnny Quest Thinks We're Sellouts" by Less Than JakeLess Than Jake are a popular ska/ punk band from Gainesville, Florida. They are currently on the roster of Sire Records. One thing that distinguishes LTJ is their use of trumpets and saxophone in songs. This is most notable in the earlier albums such as H
• "Never Sell Out" by The ExploitedThe Exploited are a seminal Punk Rock group, from the so-called "second wave" of U. Despite seemingly countless line-up changes over the years, the band has managed to maintain, develop, and evolve a style which has had arguably more of an influence than

These song range in approach to the term "selling out"; from declarations that the band will never sell out, to aggressive messages towards fans accusing bands of "selling out".

The Who Sell OutThe Who Sell Out ( 1967) is The Who's third album. It is a concept album, formatted as a collection of unrelated songs interspersed with faux commercials and public service announcements. The album purports to be a broadcast by pirate radio station Radio is an album by The WhoThe Who is a British rock band. They were noted for the dynamism of their live performances and for their thoughtful music, including Tommy one of the first rock operas. While not a heavy metal band themselves, their distorted guitars, epic songwriting, a with mock endorsement advertisements on the cover. The album pretends to represent a radio station that plays nothing but Who music, including mock commercials and radio-station promotions.