A lot of people write music that is too obscure to be commercial. Writing and performing music that a lot of people like is itself an artform, though some would say a very lowbrow artform.
Selling out is a not so subtle reference to selling your soul to the devil; sacrificing your art for a dollar. If playing music (or doing any other art) makes you fell like you're betraying what you'd really like to do, you've sold out. The trick is to remain true to your art while getting lots of people to want your art. Good luck.
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#114649 by jimmydanger
Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:31 pm
Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:31 pm
ok, here is my opinion on obscure vs mainstream
1. getting signed is easy, you just need the right contacts and/or luck
2. being a mainstream band does not make you a good musician
3. regardless of how much money they now have, mainstream bands usually lose their original sound right after major labels alter their persona, for example, Metallica made the black album, then sucked the rest of their musical career... so they peaked with their last original release, then lost everything once the label made them tone down for load... and this happens with almost every band
4. talent shows like american idol are a joke and are meant for marketing, and promoting, not for their artist potential
5. mainstream music is marketed very thoroughly and literally force fed to people who do not wish to look into more obscure music that's just as popular, just not backed by billion dollar labels ie: bright eyes, frank zappa, elvis costello, band of horses, etc... these bands are making and have made music history without any major label marketing/radio play as of yet.
6. I agree everyone would love to be a rock star and get their music out there for everyone to hear and live the life we all see, but truth is, real writers/musicians hold some pride and passion in their material and for someone like myself... I'd love to play underground, not sign major label, make my own name, market and promote my own way, and not have to sign my music over so capitol can use it in a ford commercial and all I get are occasional mechanical royalties for the play, and no rights to the song I wrote. I'd like to write on my own terms rather than sign a paper that says my next hit marketed will be an old rolling stones cover and not my own song with potential
7. I love writing and singing, it's my outlet, I take it seriously... to me, all my songs have meaning, so no, I'd never want to be a big disney/stadium rock star.
just saying...
1. getting signed is easy, you just need the right contacts and/or luck
2. being a mainstream band does not make you a good musician
3. regardless of how much money they now have, mainstream bands usually lose their original sound right after major labels alter their persona, for example, Metallica made the black album, then sucked the rest of their musical career... so they peaked with their last original release, then lost everything once the label made them tone down for load... and this happens with almost every band
4. talent shows like american idol are a joke and are meant for marketing, and promoting, not for their artist potential
5. mainstream music is marketed very thoroughly and literally force fed to people who do not wish to look into more obscure music that's just as popular, just not backed by billion dollar labels ie: bright eyes, frank zappa, elvis costello, band of horses, etc... these bands are making and have made music history without any major label marketing/radio play as of yet.
6. I agree everyone would love to be a rock star and get their music out there for everyone to hear and live the life we all see, but truth is, real writers/musicians hold some pride and passion in their material and for someone like myself... I'd love to play underground, not sign major label, make my own name, market and promote my own way, and not have to sign my music over so capitol can use it in a ford commercial and all I get are occasional mechanical royalties for the play, and no rights to the song I wrote. I'd like to write on my own terms rather than sign a paper that says my next hit marketed will be an old rolling stones cover and not my own song with potential
7. I love writing and singing, it's my outlet, I take it seriously... to me, all my songs have meaning, so no, I'd never want to be a big disney/stadium rock star.
just saying...
Slacker G wrote:crass
Indeed.. Crass sells. Tool, Marilyn Manson, Korn. All lucrative careers, extremely crass lyrics at times.
If doing what you do doesn't make you feel ashamed, you haven't sold out. I don't care of you're a Jonas brother or Billy Ray Cyrus.
I would have loved to have written & recorded some of the commercials I've heard over the years.
I would play or write in any genre that hit my mine at the moment.
I would have loved to have written & recorded some of the commercials I've heard over the years.
I would play or write in any genre that hit my mine at the moment.
SMILE - it's the safest way to spread your cheeks!
philbymon wrote:If doing what you do doesn't make you feel ashamed, you haven't sold out. I don't care of you're a Jonas brother or Billy Ray Cyrus.
I would have loved to have written & recorded some of the commercials I've heard over the years.
I would play or write in any genre that hit my mine at the moment.
You have a mine?
Just to break it down -
Be yourself.
If you express yourself and limit the musical influences buzzing around you every day, you will have your uniqueness.
That might apply to songwriting, or it might apply to just what kind of player you are - they way you do things.
People around you mostly tell you what you want to hear, so be introspective. Be honest with yourself. Be honest with yourself about a piece of music.
I dont believe that music is purely subjective. Their are inherent traits that make something 'good' or 'bad'. It doesnt matter what the genre is, good is good - bad is bad. Most stuff falls somewhere in between.
Comercialism is fine, if by comercialism you mean you sell a million copies.
When it starts to lack life, honesty and sincerity, then its lost.
Thats the battle. Coprorate america wants to make as much money off of yu as possible. They will pressure you to fit a branding model.
The artist will push back. The label will coerce, threaten, whatever they do to get you to align with their marketing strategy.
I'm all for wealth, but I'm terrified of fame.
No thanks.
I've had a couple of experiences on a small scale that rattled me. I figured out pretty quick that I didnt want to be famous after all.
Writers can get away with it. They can have a pen name and keep a low profile, but performers?
What was this thread about again?
I'm not gonna lie, I'd love to have the opportunity to take over the world. As long as I'm alive, anything's possible. I've seen obscure musicians join established bands and then take off from there...that's only one scenario.
The things that happen to musicians can be very unpredictible. A good band could drop dead, a horrible band could blow up, a laughing stock could resurrect from failure, and an unknown could finally get recognition right near the end of their career...etc.
For me, good examples of successful bands who never sold out but at times weren't afraid to grow are: Queen, Led Zeppelin, AC-DC, Rush, Pink Floyd...etc.
I know those are old bands but a couple of them are still around and probably would never end up leaving the arena. All they have to do is be themselves. It's a rare thing to never fade out through the storms of trends.
The things that happen to musicians can be very unpredictible. A good band could drop dead, a horrible band could blow up, a laughing stock could resurrect from failure, and an unknown could finally get recognition right near the end of their career...etc.
For me, good examples of successful bands who never sold out but at times weren't afraid to grow are: Queen, Led Zeppelin, AC-DC, Rush, Pink Floyd...etc.
I know those are old bands but a couple of them are still around and probably would never end up leaving the arena. All they have to do is be themselves. It's a rare thing to never fade out through the storms of trends.
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