"Selling Out"

[Tread184]

What do you guys think about or feel when you see one of your favorite bands or artists in T.V. commercials, magazine and internet ads, or selling self themed stuff outside of their concerts?

I'm not to sure myself. I love Ozzy Osbourne, and I see that guy in all of these commercials, mostly inspired by his hit T.V. show. The greatest part of it, is that he's making fun of himself all the time, which is pretty funny. I don't really fault Ozzy for makin' money. Then there's KISS. These guys are the kings of capitalism, there will put their name on anything if they can make money off of it. I don't really mind that either, probably because they were known for it.
Then, we have U2, who made that one iPod commercial, for the U2 themed iPod, but they refused to take any money for it. Is that selling out? Even if they didn't get any money from Apple, they still became more famous with a lot of people.
Last example, I saw a GAP commercial, featuring Daft Punk, one of their songs off the Discovery album and some other chick. I personal felt that it was a horrible commercial and a bad way to "sell out". The Daft punk guys were in full out denim, the girl was a horrible dancer, the edit on their song was pretty bad, and it really didn't say anything about the company's jeans. IDK, I thought the whole thing was poorly done, and was lame.

What do you guys think about "selling out"?

 

[cuddly_tomato]

Urgh... honorable mention goes to the guy behind "Anarchy UK!", Johnny Rotten:-

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7mSE-Iy_tFY

I don't like it personally. If people get to like and respect their work, they then crap all over those people when they take money to recommend shiney new fridges or whatever.

 

[jim_doki]

oh great, selling out

look, its really quite simple. Musicians need money. since people are downloading more and more music they need to explore other avenues of making money. so here's the deal. you see people on commercials that you think deserve better? buy their album. stop them becoming jingle wriiters and turn them back into musicians.

this wont happen overnight, but it will eventually mean the only artists who appear on TV are promoting therir own album or greedy.

 

[chimmers]

Sometimes it does seem a bit odd, but hey - we've all got to make money. Anyway, I've bought quite a few songs that I have heard in adverts so I can't complain

 

[Galletea]

Doesn't bother me. Why should I be annoyed that a band I like are making more money? As long as their music stays good I'm cool with it, and even happy for them to be enjoying success. Daft punk are pure awesome in my eyes anyway. Silly adverts just amuse me, they don't make me think any less of them.

 

[xitel]

I don't mind. It just means they're making money so they can continue making the music I like. If they have to support a product to do that, more power to them!

 

[Baby Tea]

I'd say it depends on the artist.

If you have some politically charged band who is raging against capitalism who then goes to endorse some big name company for the sake of money...then I think the band is a joke.

If it's just a band how is making music and enjoying their fame and goes on a commercial for whatever, then who cares? Let 'em.

 

[DiamondJim]

When it comes to commercial stuff like advertising and promos, yeah, you gotta make money somehow.

*But*. If, say, a band pulls a complete 180 on something like style/genre, that tends to irk me. Sometimes those instances also have commercial roots, just trying to appeal to the masses, but that in itself undermines their work in my opinion. Giving up what you love to do for more coin is something I don't care for.

 

[NiceGurl_14]

Ironic topic, on youtube there's a group of kids that call themselves Niga Higa and a big debate is going on about them "selling out" because they stopped doing their stuff on youtube and made a movie (in select theaters)

 

[dalek sec]

Most of the time it doesn't matter to me, the stuff like Ozzy does is somewhat funny to me since he does poke fun at himself.

 

[Aardvark]

How are you meant to cash in if you don't sell out?

Sure, you'll lose cred with the indie crowd, but they're a bunch of uni students, who's income goes towards the purchase of illicit herbs, and merchant bankers. Either way, you'll make more money if you go corporate.

 

[Zoidberg]

normally I don't have a problem with selling out, but jesus christ - Hannah Montana a.k.a. Miley Cyrus. The local tabletop-gaming related shop, which i'm in, alot, is unfortunatly also a toystore, and they have an entire wall dedicated to hannah montana bullplop. And it's evolving into the gaming industry as well, ripping off several games like guitar hero and sing star (not games i play but i'm againt plagiarism) and this is frikking serious.
but she does makes good music, eh? NOO

 

[Arachon]

Urgh... honorable mention goes to the guy behind "Anarchy UK!", Johnny Rotten:-

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7mSE-Iy_tFY

I don't like it personally. If people get to like and respect their work, they then crap all over those people when they take money to recommend shiney new fridges or whatever.

You know what... That commercial was awesome! Sex Pistols singer or not - Lydon is a very "special" person, that is quite hilarious if you ask me...

 

[Esdras]

you make way more fans and money by selling out. But who would want to be rich and famous anyway?

 

[BallPtPenTheif]

Ozzy Ozborne never stated that he lived by the punk ethos of never selling out. So applying that standard to him is unfair and nonsensical. If we were to hold him to those standards though, we could easily say that he sold out long ago when he became a drug addled solo artist yet that doesn't diminish the value of Crazy Train.

Much like Snoop Dogg, Ozzy could do tampon commercials and it wouldn't mean he was more of a sell out because the man has nothing left. He is more of a brand than a musician now.