To sell out or to stay true ?

At IElecteric battle 2009, a contest where the winning band can win a series of prizes that include music video shoot, photo shoot, and an interview with WMCX 88.9 FM, a Jersey band Blast Rocks Midtown hit the stage. They were not competing, but were performing to promote their new EP “step up, get down”. The crowd had started off with at least thirty kids, and as soon as the guitar began, I realized I was one of four left standing by the stage. The first thing I heard from a handful of the audience was; “fucking sellouts”.

I never thought I’d hear the phrase “sellout” used for an unsigned band because I’ve always thought that it applied to musicians signed to a label, or who’ve changed their image to please the mainstream and sell more albums. Clearly I was missing something here. It turned out it wasn’t BRM’s sound that bothered the crowd or even their image, it was their attitude. Because they’ve shared the stage with some well-known names like Kiss Kiss and The Scenic, they were walking around as though they were better than all the other bands in the room. This made me wonder: What is considered “sellout” in today’s music industry, and does it still apply to unsigned musicians like BRM?

I brought these questions to a few newbie and veteran musicians of the Bronx and Queens, New York hardcore scene. Many were focused on how a musician loses their sound and original goals. Foisol Khan, vocalist and singer of Queens band Kentucky Vampire Clan, looked at this topic from the fans perspective:

Fans will say a band is 'selling out' because they either don't like the music that the band is now producing, or they can't tell that the band is still the same, but just more popular, and not their "own" anymore or fans cannot take 'progress' and/or stylistic changes because a band doesn't want to play the same style of music anymore.

Justin Melendez, vocalist and guitarist of Bronx band The Day Before focused more on the benefits of getting signed to a label:

If you have no money today and you are recording with shitty gear and you write an album in a completely uninspiring room, garage, or basement, getting signed gets you a studio space that is actually comfortable and enjoyable to be in. Bands who make a good amount of money and are now riding in style, might be seen as a sellout, but if they follow that kind of road that I just described, then it's clear that they were just putting the money they made into bettering their situation

Are musicians really a “sellout” when they’re simply just trying to make a living? It’s an amazing feeling to play to a crowd full of your fans, but it’s even better when you’re going home with money in your pocket after doing something you love.

Is it better to be a "sellout" or stay true to the scene? (discussion)

In an open discussion with many musicians who have been playing the underground scene for awhile, I asked : What does a "sellout" in the music industry mean to you, and do you think it applies to unsigned musicians in today's scene? I got some interesting responses:




Any band that changes their musical style to fit the ideas set by the mainstream music industry is a sellout. If a tradition metal band decided to do rap metal because they'd sell more records, they're considered a sellout. Granted, it's hard to keep playing a certain style if its unaccepted by mainstream society but bands were originally started to play music that they themselves wanted to hear (Omar Forthewin of Agrius)

it basically applies to anyone who changes their style of music or whatever they were originally known for in order to make money or make new fans or what not (Javy of Five cases of a tragedy)


I don't know. I think the term 'sell-out' is by definition an extremely clouded one. Fans will say a band is 'selling out' because (a) they either don't like the music that the band is now producing or (b) they either can't tell that the band is still the same, but just more popular, and thus not their "own" anymore or (c) fans cannot take 'progress' and/or stylistic changes because a band doesn't want to play the same style of music anymore.

Furthermore "selling out" often doesn't even fall into the musical spectrum but in terms of image and such too. Remember when lostprophets went from being a baggy jeans wearing, backward fitted cap band with turntables, following the nu-metal look, despite their hardcore roots? It was trendy at the time, but then they came to be called 'trendwhores' and 'sellouts' with the tighter clothes, designer jeans, and emo fringe haircuts. There was a lot of angst towards that, but I guarantee you that the people who were dressed like early lostprophets (baggy, urban inspired clothing) and were angered that their image changed, don't dress that way anymore either. Just look around you.

At any rate, I think that younger bands are quicker to defend themselves against accusations of selling out, and even accusing their fellow peers in other bands of doing the same. Older bands... I suppose have gotten more into the business side of things... or frankly they might just have children and families to feed, and music thus becomes a means to an end to do so.

With all this said, nothing attracts people to something more than controversy and/or criticism. But in the end... I personally believe that if you think a band has "sold out" and/or merely don't like their music anymore... don't listen to them. Find a new favorite band. It's not like there is a shortage of them. Mind you, this is coming from a pretty elitist musical snob.

Furthermore... I just wanted to add that in music that falls under the 'rock' category... a lot of people not involved in the actual playing in a band aspect don't understand how expensive and usually fruitless it is. Sure, we all love to hear stories of bands starving on the road or to pay for their instruments, amps and effects just to get their dreams... but sometimes it becomes very disheartening. ESPECIALLY when you know that artists in the 'pop', 'r&b' and electronica genres, for example, have pretty sub standard studios and electronic instrumentation, mostly provided by a producer with just a good knack for making catchy hooks, that make millions upon millions. Give me a pirated copy of Pro Tools, a midi controller, Reason, an m-Audio interface with speakers, a decent condensor mic and an MPC... and you've have given me the tools I need to make that next hit to be played on Z100.

The term "sell out" is elitist, and especially living in the Western world, where capitalism reigns supreme, I think before people are so keen on accusing one another of being greedy... consider this... "Would you prefer a hot dog tonight? Or prime rib?" It's all the American dream... and the pursuit of happiness... and it's all a load of hypocrisy for the most part
(Foisol Khan of Kentucky Vampire Clan)

I agree. It's not so much the music changing or trying to reach a certain fan base... that's just growth. Evolution. Styles and trends change.. people follow. People in bands are still people so they might follow too. A lot of people just look up to musicians and expect them to pull off a bunch of original shit that is pretty much impossible in this world. Beyond the image is the music. Bands grow as musicians over time, so changing their sound is pretty inevitable. When the ultimate goal becomes making big money, that's when bands lose focus on the thing that really made them fall in love with being a musician.. which is creating music for people. It's hard to identify a sellout because of the fact that things change. Music changes. Gear changes. Conditions change. If you have no money today... and you are recording with shitty gear and you write an album in a completely uninspiring room/garage/basement... sell that album and that nets you a good amount of money.. and you then get better gear.. get a studio space that is actually comfortable and enjoyable to be in... The product will be fairly different the next time around. "Better" is a matter of opinion. But because of that change, a band who makes a good amount of money and is now riding in style, might be seen as a sellout... But if they follow that kinda road that I just described, then it's clear that they were just putting the money they made into bettering their conditions... which resulted in a different product. All the variable can change things pretty drastically. Some people get lessons with the money they make.. making them more educated musicians and may change their natural style... some people get better gear which may change the tone of their instrument. Some people get clothes and material things to change up their image. It's all a matter of priority. But if you had the money, you would treat yourself to stupid things as well. Obviously, all musicians would love to make their music a decent source of income that they could essentially live off of. Pay the bills... Live pretty comfortably... and be able to enjoy your job in the process. That hardly happens though. But to pursue income after investing thousands of dollars in gear and a practice space, and studio time, and vehicles, and maintenance for all that gear and the vehicles.. and transportation costs like gas/tolls/tickets.. etc... doesn't make you a sellout. Doesn't make you money hungry. Everyone wants their investment to be somewhat profitable. If the goal weren't to make money, people wouldn't buy 2000 dollar amps to dial in a super specific tone... or buy 1500+ dollar guitars to get the perfect feel and stuff. If it was JUST for fun, everyone would use cheap gear... so that it doesn't break the bank. Everyone would love their time to be worth money. And that's what bands are doing. It's part of the entertainment business. If people made money for doing what they are already doing or doing the things they love, they would all go for it. Because why not?

But back to identifying sellouts. It's also hard to identify because sometimes people are just fortunate enough to be at th eright place at the right time or know the right people.. who get them into a greater position in the music industry. Involvement with labels or endorsements offers from companies that can put your face all over the world... Sometimes it's at the expense of your own dignity, and that could be considered selling out. But to be lucky to be one of the few people who blow up huge isn't a definite sign of a sellout. There is a lot of compromise involved with super-stardom anyway. Like your personal life being completely overthrown by your business life. And the fakeness of other who are just looking to cash in on your own success. Imagine how hard it would be to find real friends at that point. If they have a ton of money and don't care to cash in on your success, you could probably trust them a bit. But Idk. It seems like trust would be an issue at that stage. Basically, selling out is more of a mindset I think. I think it's way too hard to identify a sellout from a spectator's POV. Unless you're 100% involved in that other persons life, there's no way to know if they were just fortunate, or if they earned their way up there( be it through networking or just being reliable or w/e)... or if they sucked dick to get to the top. You never really know and there's no reason to judge people based on their success.

I might have typed this all out really badly and unorganized or w/e.. I just ramble with my fingers. Lol. But yea, that's my general opinion.

As fans, people expect things to stay the same. Because people are naturally afraid of change. But being afraid of change isn't the same as being afraid of growth... The fanatic types that he mentioned in the metallica example, are the kind of ignorant, closed minded people who are afraid of growth. Metallica grew up. Their new stuff is very different from the old stuff. But if you run through it chronologically, it's not like they went from on end of the spectrum to the next in a single bound. They slowly grew up... slowly got less depressed about the issues in their lives and began writing music that was a bit different. When your muse is your own personal conflict... money problems... girlfriend problems... job problems... w/e.... Take those problems away and what do you have left to inspire your music?

Another piece of irony is that when a band doesn't change their sound enough from album to album, their looked down on for not being talented enough to write new music... or for all their stuff 'sounding the same' or w/e. So the threshold is real small. One tiny detail can take you from 'sounding the same' or from 'changing'. And not many people take into account that there is middle ground in there. People want things, but then they don't. They want a band to create new music, but when it's out they don't like it because it's either too different.. or not as good as their old stuff.. so they go ahead and say they suck or w/e. And it's like.. w/e... bands put out music. Some people don't have an infinite flow of musical output like some of the greats out there. So there are definitely a ton of bands that are one hit wonders.. or one album wonders. Lol. There are also a lot of things that affect a band that isn't music. Lol. Like how many times have you looked at a band and was like "oh these guys suck" without even hearing their music? Or hear the first 10 seconds of one of their not so great songs.. and judge them by it.... usually with a line like "Oh I heard some of their stuff... I don't like it. Those guys aren't very good." maybe something harsher. But basically, judging the band's entire catalog by a 10 second sample that you might've caught while accidentally stumbling over their myspace page a few years ago.

Idk. Overall, people don't know what they want. Nothing is good enough (Justin Melendez of The Day Before)



This whole notion that fans and peers are always changing their opinion on other's music seems a tad necessary and pretentious. musicians need fas for obvious reasons. however, the level that these fans take it to can be dangerous. i mean look at metallica alot of people know their early work an love. however when it comes to their new stuff, the old fans hate it. cmon, how long do you think they were gonna run around in black, with long ass hair, a 18 pack of bud in one hand and a guitar in the other? "selling out" isnt selling out, its change; change progression. now the irony of life is that people hate change (Chris of Kentucky Vampire Clan)