Sellout: Definition Needed
Monday, May 11, 2009 at 12:01AM So the past few days I've been pondering the curious case of "selling out."
I've decided no one knows what the term means and therefore, the saying must be completely irrelevant.
When word broke that Slash was doing American Idol, everyone in Metal world shared a collective gasp and went into "sky is falling" mode. Oh my Glam! Could it be! An original Gunner doing a crap show like American Idol? Blasphemy.
The crap show, by the way, is about the highest rated program on television, so clearly Slash made a horrible decision. I mean, how dare he promote his new solo record on a platform that would reach 100 million people? What a moron.
Apparently it's worse if you actually watch Idol and are a music fan. I mean, clearly, if you do that = sell out. How dare Americans (and people all over the world for that matter) want some happy, music entertainment in the evening? How dare millions of people think (know) Adam Lambert can sing just as well as or better than Axl Rose? I mean, it would be far better for young Adam to toil in obscurity than be discovered on American Idol because that show is selling out.
Liking modern Metal is a sure sign of selling out - but only if those bands are on a major label and don't list Motley Crue as their first and main influence. It's ok to like Dirty Penny because they dream to be Motley but they are certainly not. It's ok to like Black Tide because Iron Maiden are their heroes. It's ok to like Freakshow because that band features members of classic Glam bands. Pay attention now: it is not ok to like Avenged Sevenfold or Slipknot because the lyrics are not 100% melodic. It is not ok to like bands that have beaten the digital age and sold enough units to go platinum. It is not ok to get in the pit and rock to one of these new bands because this support is somehow hurting Styx and Queensryche and therefore = sell out.
Let's see. I'm pretty sure if you shop at Hot Topic (or Torrid) you are a giant sell out because it's not ok to like band T-shirts that are not officially vintage. You also can't go to Hot Topic to buy Manic Panic for your hair, but it's ok if you find the dye at any other store. I cannot emphasize how much of a travesty it would be to support a chain that Fortune magazine called one of the best places in America to work. I mean, I know I would hate to have the title VP of Music for Hot Topic. Hell, if I ever landed that job I'd probably just slit my wrists. Talk about selling out.
See a theme here? I'm not sure selling out exists anymore. Does success = selling out? I don't think so. How can we begrudge anyone happiness or success? When I start writing for Rolling Stone, I hope I'm called a sell out. I'd wear that "insult" like a badge of honor.
Reader Comments (48)
If anyone thinks the music scene is stronger today than what it was in 1987 then I'll just flat-out say it - you're a fucktard.
Where's the Van Halen of 2009? Where's the Motley of 2009? Where's the Bad Company? It ain't here - and don't tell me there's an excitement about the new 'Daughtry' album or the new 'Nickelback' album. Cuz NOBODY talks about that anymore. Not like 20 years ago. I really haven't got the time to explain myself but I guarantee that during my interviews I go off on how the industry is ran now - by a bunch of douchebags.
Again - bands that matter/have talent, is in the eye of the beholder.
I was around in 1987 and right in the thick of things so, again, I remember firsthand what the music industry was like at that time. You can't compare the two. Oh, wait, maybe you can... both eras had tons of bands that the music buying public of that time were spending their hard earned money on. Why? Because they liked the bands - for whatever reason. It seems like you're saying people have no free will and have been brainwashed into buying something that you feel isn't "good" or "doesn't matter."
Sorry, dude, I totally disagree with you on this one. But that's what makes the world go around. You have a right to your opinion. Maybe just mellow out a bit about it.
Joel , if you think the scene is more vibrant today than it was 20 years ago then I don't know what to say bro. Music was a big deal back then and I'm totally with Christian when he says music doesn't matter as much. It's absolutely true. The ONLY way the music industry will have any meaning in the future or have any substance is by re-creating the 'scene' and excitement of L.A. in 1985. I am determined somehow , someway to make that happen. I can't do it as an indie re-issue label , but I can do it as part of a company like Capitol or WEA. Pray that happens , because if it does I would definitely shake things up and make a lot of changes that need to be made. Changes that I think most would agree with.
I'm a fired up guy with something to say and ready to cause some waves in this stale apathetic industry.
It's time to get EXCITED about music again and not just accept the B.S. they feed to us that is the epitome of mediocrity.
Together we can show the world that we don't have to accept it and that we demand quality.
Joel , if you think Daughtry or Nickelback is the best America has to offer then I'm sorry man - you have a lot of research to do.
You know, to tell me that I have a lot of research to do is just insulting. Seriously. Sam, I'm 47 years old. In 1986 - the year T.Y.R. formed I was 24. I COME from that era and I was right in the middle of it helping to create and expand a music scene that stretched from San Francisco to LA and back again - something that you are now benefiting from. No, I wasn't on the level of Motley or Scorps or Poison, but by god I worked my ass off, made a lot of people happy and had my minute in the spotlight. I, too, have played with some major players, partied with the rockstars - as opposed to the proverbial "like a rockstar", and been treated as a peer by some of the people that may be on shuffle on your CD player. So please don't try to tell me about something I've already lived through.
Point being, from where I come from I can STILL respect ANY musician whether they're oldschool or not no matter what label they're on or if they're still playing bars because they're pursuing the dream and they're making people happy. I couldn't give a shit if a band is on the uberpop station, the numetal screamo total repeat station, or the jesus loves country channel. Somehow, somewhere, they're making people happy and doing what they feel. I would expect you to understand that from everything you say.
Again, and finally, bottom line: If you don't like something, turn it off, dont' listen to it, don't buy the product. It's a free country.
I love where you tell a guy who was part of that scene, that he has a lot of research to do. That's excellent. I'm sure with the people skills you have on display here, you'll get a job at WEA, and I'm sure that you alone know how to get kids excited about music again, something that every other person in the industry is incapable of. I'm watching and waiting.
By the way, America doesn't have Nickelback to offer, they're Canadian haha!
HAHAAH - it's not the music industry's fault that they sink millions into half-ass bands and buy their way onto radio stations playlists?? Right , because lots of indie bands are played on FM stations here in America. Dude , you're fucking loony. How the HELL do you think bands like Daughtry , Nickelback , David Cook , Hinder etc.etc are made?? FROM EXECS AT LABELS LIKE WEA AND CAPITOL MAKING THEM THE NEXT BIG THING!! Jesus Christ , it's like banging your head against a brick wall!! It's not the industry's fault?? OMFG , IT'S THE INDUSTRY'S FAULT GRUNGE WAS BIG , THEN SKA WAS BIG THEN CHICK SINGERS MADE IT BIG and now this bullshit whiney every-song-sounds-the-same and every-singer-sounds-the-same trollop!!
I can't believe what I'm reading!!
"It's that they have so many other options."
Kids have lots of options but will ALWAYS gravitate to the flavor of the week. That's music business 101.
"I love where you tell a guy who was part of that scene, that he has a lot of research to do."
Well , judging from the post made about Nickelback and Daughtry it sure seemed evident to me that Joel is not hip to the true talent in this industry in 2009. If I'm wrong so be it , I will retract my statement.
"I'm sure with the people skills you have on display here, you'll get a job at WEA, and I'm sure that you alone know how to get kids excited about music again, something that every other person in the industry is incapable of."
Abso-fucking-lutely pal. Judging from the top ten sellers of last year I CAN do a better job. Donald Trump , Lee Iacocca and Bill Gates were all told the same thing - you CAN'T do it , you WON't do it. I may never get the opportunity but I'll do my damndest to try and considering the job I've done with Retrospect , I feel pretty confident. Sorry if you disagree.
Why did grunge happen ? Because glam had become more about money and sex than music. Have you *seen* decline of western civilization II ? How many of those dudes were talking about the music ? NONE. The record industry is what killed glam and metal. They turned it into a factory, just like any pop music. Eventually, the kids saw through it, and grunge, much as I hate it, was something the gravitated to because it was honest. The music industry did not invent grunge, it jumped on yet another bandwagon. Grunge did not last because it had no substance, and because no-one could out grunge Kurt, but in the first instance, it offered young kids their own music, not what their big brothers listened to, and it offered a sense that the bands were the same as them. No different to punk, and I expect the same cycle will happen again in the future. The fact that the same thing happened with punk, for the same reasons, is one reason I don't get why you act so surprised over it.
And much as I love it, by 1992, the glam and metal coming out of the music industry in a torrent, was pretty cookie cutter. Post grunge there's been a chance for bands to have more personality than new bands typically did, towards the end.
And I have no doubt that you can pick bands I would greatly prefer to the top 10 of any year since 1992. That's not really the point. The point is, most kids don't want to listen to the music that 40 year olds listen to. If you think it's just that they are not being offered good enough music, then you're dreaming. They just don't connect to music like we did, regardless of what it is, but that doesn't mean they wish for another Slippery when wet, or Hysteria, or that they would buy that in droves. That is a fantasy. It's my fantasy, too, but I know when to put the vaseline away and come back to reality.
I like you Sam, I love that you're so passionate about this music. I just think you're mistaken in thinking you can sell it to this generation, and replace all the things that this generation is also hooked into, to get them to live for the music the way that we did, and still do.
By all means, pursue your dream. I mean, you should do that. Just don't bet the farm on it, b/c I don't see it working out.
Why does Motley not sell the albums they once did ? Because the true fans are still there, but back in the day, a lot of people went because they were popular.