what really is selling out?
 

What would you call it? I'm totally against mainstream radio. I'm not trying to impress with that statement, that's just stupid, I'm just laying the ground work for the rest of the story. But that being said, me and a friend got an opportunity to do some end credit music for a show on MTV. Would it be selling out to take that up? I don't feel it is. I mean, granted, it's not what I want to do with music, and I would just be doing it for the money, but look at it this way: I just quit a job cleaning windows. I HATED that job. But I needed the money so I did it anyway, and I would say there are a lot of people in here going through the same situation. So if that's ok, wouldn't it be just as fine to do another job that I'm not crazy about just for the money, especially if it is at least somewhat related to something I enjoy doing? It's not like I'm trading it out for doing the music I want to do; it's just something on the side for some cash. Any opinions?

that's prostitution! :p

selling out is

when you make decisions about your craft (art/music/dance/literature/etc.) based on what will sell the most as opposed to what would be the BEST for the piece in question. that to me is selling out.

an artist/musician/writer can try anything, and attempt anything, but when they try to just polish it up so the lowest-common denominator out there likes it and thereby they sell a lot more, that is selling out.

money

that works for me. for this deal, I just see it as a job. they are going to tell me what they want, and I will try and do it for them. that's how every other job works. it's not like I'm doing my own thing and trying to make it just to sell. i'm doing a side job for somebody, that's all.

If you want to take the job for the sake of making music, go for it.

If you want to take the job for the cash you'll reel in, go for it. We'll just all make fun of you.

Selling out is just as rob stated, but if you are making money because you are desperate than go for it.

Fair enough :)
Although I would classify it more as taking the job for the cash, and it being better than doing something else for the same money that I have NO interest in.

I don't like MTV, and I don't like their music, but I do like their money :)

Does it count as selling out if a good band signs on to a label with crappy artists, but spends a lot of their money and doesn't make any music with it?


That's what My Bloody Valentine did to Island records.

No, I think that would be taking a crappy system and turning it around to exploit it for your own benifit, which I am all for :)

And you know, come to think of it, Joey Santiago of the Pixies is doing music for Fox now. He didn't sell out though, he just took a job...

Examples of sell-out bands:
Scissor Shock
Anything Erik Wivinus related
Yellow Swans
Arab on Radar

Take the job, for fuck's sake. I shouldn't even be bother with constructing an argument for it. You'd be an idiot not to, you probably won't make it as a musician doing what you want to - this isn't a qualitative statement, it's a statistical fact, and even if you never sell out your principles, 99% of people may still think your music is shit. Again, not a personal dig (haven't heard your stuff) but to not take a job doing something you're good at/ enjoy is ridiculous, to my mind.

With everyone downloading everything, this is one of few avenues to make some cash playing music. It isn't half as "sellout" as playing in a cover band or writing jingles either.

Do it.

We are all whores at one level or another anyway.

I think you mean one corner or another.

What's wrong with cover bands, might I ask? Admitedly, I never want to see one again, but one of my New Year ruses to play out more is a covers band.

I remember an interview with Mogwai where they said they put their music on adverts/ video games because they weren't going to get on the radio because of the sort of music they play. Which makes more sense that not putting your music on an advert because you get enough radioplay as it is.

I think as long as you're OK with the product or service, who cares? I think letting someone use an existing song is a far cry from writing a jingle too.
Low refused money from a Japanese beer company, but they let The Gap use their version of "little Drummer Boy" a few Christmases back. They have a family to support and they are good people. I won't judge them for it. I'm sure Graeme Revell makes a far better living making Hollywood soundtracks than he did with SPK too, and judging from the last stretch of SPK releases, I'm glad he made the switch to avoid further tarnishing the good name of that fine outfit.