What does it mean to "sell out"?

Question

you know, for a person, like an artist or musician/band, or even someone not in arty things, what is selling out? what is the opposite to selling out - as in what do you call someone who hasn't sold out?

where is the line in between being a "sold out" and not so...?

please answer seriously.

Answer 1

You know I always thought it meant something like.. you hear a song on a bunch of ads or video games.. It's where it's not about the music anymore but about the money.

Answer 2

Every process, mental or actual, has standards (politics, art, literature, etc.).  Sometimes the ideas that one agrees with are contrary to those standards.  

Now, the saying goes that genious is never appreciated in its own time, and everyone loves the stories about the cuckoo writer who never got famous until after she died (Emily Dickinson).  In general, when somebody is popular, their work is considered less valuable (Stephen King has suffered this slight).  

For music, the spirit for rock, punk, metal, etc. is to, quite simply, rage against the machine (the machine being the Man, society, the means of wealth of the borgeoise that is oiled by the blood of the proletariat, or what you will.  If somebody goes commercial (endorsing products, agreeing to overly censoring themselves) they are considered sell outs, because they have traded their integrity for material wealth.

This is getting rather windy, isn't it?

For politics, it is easier to figure.  See, American politics has been overly simplified.  If you love guns, you vote Republican, if you love trees, you vote Democrat.  A lot of issues tend to go hand-in-hand (Republicans being both anti-g*y and pro-life having religious basis, despite the issues not being related factually).  But some things of a party are good, others are bad (those bad things are good for the other).

Some politicans (very few, sadly) will vote their heart regardless of whether it's in line with their fellow party members.  While that's sweet, somebody willing to toe the line will gain support from some of those fellow members.  A politician is a sellout when they disregard their own values for the sake of political gain.

In short, a sellout is one who makes their belief system known and then throws it away for money or power.

Answer 3

selling out would basically be to give into pressure and become part of a more pop scene.  as far as music goes it would be like an underground band getting a major record deal and being on the radio everywhere so even teenie boppers sing their songs.  lots of times people just say that about artists who become very successful and seem to lose touch with the people who put them on the map in the first place.

Answer 4

To use your talent or ability purely for the means of cashing in. To give into the man, the media. Doing what will bring mass appeal. See Jonas Brothers

Answer 5

When someone "sells out" in the context of a musician, they make music just for the money, or make music just to please an audience. It is no longer about music, it's about a career.

Answer 6

to compromise your values, beliefs or feelings for money.

Answer 7

The best example I can think of is an aspiring band/musician who is signed onto a big label. The label then dictates/changes what the music will sound like, how it will be marketed, etc. in order to make more money. This band/musician has "sold out" because they changed their art simply to make more money. The art is supposed to be more valuable than the fame/wealth. Now, someone who has always fit with what the big label wants to market is not considered a sell out because they did not change themselves in order to obtain their goals.

Generally speaking, any person who "sells out" can be someone who has changed themselves, their values, etc. for material things (money, fame, popularity, etc.) or simply to fit in to what is popular/accepted.  

Answer 8

Basically giving up whatever unique talent you had that brought in a small crowd of loyal followers to achieve fame and receive fortune and get a whole mass of mindless fans.

Answer 9

to settle for the 'mainstream' music or whatever for more money

Answer 10

Well, it means changing your music so it reaches to the masses, instead of your own small populated hardcore fans. This will make you more money, but will dissapoint your first fans who liked you earlier music more.

Metallica did this, kinda, but they mostly did it because they were getting old and wanted to play different music, they didint do it for the money (maybe lars did)

Answer 11

when you lose your artistic inspiration and do things because people pay you big money. like when u2 stopped singing sunday bloody sunday and started making songs for batman films... tho i dont care they are ace anyway.  

Answer 12

When a band starts making sh***y music for the money.

Bands that have sold out - Blink 182, Green Day

Bands that have not sold out - NOFX, Pennywise

Answer 13

Selling out refers to the compromising of one's integrity, morality and principles in exchange for money, 'success' or other personal gain. .

Answer 14

To become something you are not just for the sake of making money. To change your style of music because noone is listening to the music you want to play. If youre a heavy metal singer and you start singing like Britney Spears, you may be a sell out

Answer 15

Green day sold out. their old music was good and then on their new album american idiot they made more poppy music to get more fans.

answer mine please!http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 16

yeah it means being really famous and overrated

Answer 17

"Loyalist" is a person who doesn't sell out

and a wuss is a sell out to make more money or to please people.