…I read threads like this where the discussion turns to artists selling out. Who’s to know what motivates the creative process of an artist? Only the artist. This particular thread focuses on Maroon 5 and what happened to them. Invariably, considering it’s The Gear Page, there will be those members who only have negative things to say, and accuse the band of selling out; or one respondent saying Adam Levine is a douche, and doesn’t substantiate as to why he or she thinks that. In my opinion, those who make those kinds of statements are the real douche bags, and frankly, I think their negativity is borne more out of jealousy than anything else.
The plain fact of the matter is that no one but the artist really knows what drives them. And many songwriters will actually say that they don’t know how they come up with songs. They just come, and they write them down. If that’s what happened to Maroon 5, that’s what happened. It’s pretty arrogant for people to throw out the oft-repeated phrase “they sold out.” Maybe Adam Levin wanted to explore a different direction; maybe songs like “Moves Like Jagger” written with Christina Aguilara was just something fun to do. WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE?
Several years ago, I remember being at a cast party of a community theatre production after a show and this aspiring “starlet” (I say this facetiously, mind you) said, “I only want to work in theatre because the actors in TV and movies have sold out, and they don’t really care about the craft.” I just looked at her in amazement, then somehow blurted out, “You are SO full of shit! But if it gives you any comfort, I can guarantee that people like Tom Cruise (that’s who she was talking about) are so upset with the opinions of ‘real’ actors like you that they’re crying all the way to bank.”
And so it goes with the musicians who are perceived to have sold out. Let me tell you, with their millions of fans, they’re more relevant than you could even imagine. Of course, with the finicky public, that could change in a heartbeat. As for me though, I celebrate the success of hard-working musicians.
That said, I do need to draw the line between those musicians who’ve worked their tails off and write their own stuff versus those who are invented. I have much more respect for people who perform their own creations. A good example of this is Taylor Swift versus Britney Spears. The former writes much if not all of her own stuff, while the latter was pure invention by someone else. I’ve never liked either one’s music, but I can appreciate people who originate their art. Taylor Swift has done a great job of bouncing back and forth between country and pop. What has Britney done lately? Talent judge? Hmm… 🙂
But then again, I can’t fault Britney for wanting to make a buck, and heaven knows she’s had great commercial success, but in my mind, if I were a fan, I’d be much less concerned about her “selling out” because she didn’t create the songs in the first place.
Anyway, sorry for the rant. I’m know I’m known more for my positive and upbeat tone, but some things just piss me off…
Guitar Gear 
I understand that artists can evolve and in doing so will go in new directions, but how do we explain what happened to Metallica?
I think James got sober… In all seriousness though, you keep it up for 30+ years. And perhaps the change in their sound was simply an evolutionary thing. Yeah, they pretty much invented Thrash metal or at the very least were its standard-bearers for many years, but I’m kind of with what another blogger wrote, “…they didn’t sell out, they just made a commercial album. It happens.” People talk about Green Day like that. But I believe they wrote what they wrote at the time they wrote it simply because it was there to write. I highly doubt that it was a calculated move, though with Lars you never really knew. Remember when he and Kurt did that “gay” thing for awhile? That was a total WTF moment… 🙂
Well around the time their style “shifted” the glam rock hair bands had finally started to die off and we had bands like Slaughter and Damn Yankees getting 24 hour airplay on MTV so it seemed a little fishy when they suddenly hired Bob Rock to produce The Black Album. Like maybe the success of One gave them a taste of the mainstream and they didn’t want to lose their chance to stay there. But then again maybe they saw thrash going away and wanted to avoid being type-casted. At least they didn’t start playing grunge.
A lot of bands will sometimes actively fight against the type-cast; there’s something very frustrating about doing the same thing over and over so that people hear the familiar. A good way to explore new areas is to bring in a new producer. Sometimes it’s to try new instruments or musical styles. Look at U2 or the Beatles, or Sheryl Crow for that matter.
In my mind, selling out means doing something you’d rather not do in order to sell records. Of course, some ‘musicians’ only do things to sell records, and so have never really had anything to sell out.
Exactly. My point about Britney Spears. 🙂 Another guy I’d mention who’s done practically nothing but explore new and different areas is Neil Young. His latest few albums have been more country, but he’s done it all.