Selling out

For example, a musician who alters their material to encompass a wider audience, and in turn generates greater revenue, may be labeled by fans who pre-date the change as a "sellout".

First, there is the use of the term "sell-out" to refer to those who sign for major labels or to those who license their music to companies for use in advertising[4] that contradicts their apparent values.

[6] It was not until the punk subculture in the 1970s that the notion that musicians should be completely independent of commercial influences began to increase in popularity.

[8] This continued into the 1980s, when bands were scorned by fanzines for signing with major labels as the mainstream success this would bring was symptomatic of the general decay in culture.

[4] However, after a number of bands maintained the quality of their records after signing for a major label, by the end of the 1980s the focus on "selling out" shifted to advertising.

[8] As CD sales fell and record companies became unwilling or unable to afford the push new bands needed to become established, sponsorship of bands by major companies began to be seen as more acceptable, with even minor record labels devoting time and money towards marketing deals with well-known brands.

[7] By the 2010s, the use of licensing of artists in commercials had become an accepted part of the music industry, and even those who would previously have been considered part of the 1970s resistance to "selling out" have been used in advertising products, such as former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon advertising Country Life butter and Iggy Pop endorsing car insurance.

[8] Consequently, it has been suggested[7][9] that the acceptance of music in advertising is generational, as younger listeners are comfortable with the relationship to the point of indifference[8][9] whilst those who have seen the industry evolve still reject it.

While this perceived inauthenticity is viewed with scorn and contempt by members of the subculture, the definition of the term and to whom it should be applied is subjective.

[15] In film and television "selling out" refers to compromising the content of produced media, primarily for financial reasons; for example, introducing product placement.

A comic who alters their routine by "sugar-coating" their language and using less-offensive material to obtain mainstream success may be accused of "selling out".

In his 1999 album You Are All Diseased, which contains rants against advertising and business, Carlin admits the dichotomy but makes no attempt to explain himself, stating, "You're just gonna have to figure that shit out on your own."

[22][23] Comedian/actress Janeane Garofalo has described herself as a "sellout" based on her participation with the TV show 24 playing Janis Gold.