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Do rock legends really ever sell out? One might say that Metallica sold out when they made the song Nothing Else Matters and a few others. My opinion is more that they opened their repertoire up to the masses who only thought of them as a thrash metal band and allowed those who liked the new material to explore the older stuff. Others might say that many of the major acts sold out when they have their tours sponsored by major corporations. When you consider the costs involved in putting on a full effects, choreographed, laser lit worldwide tour, there is no way to do it without corporate sponsorship. The sales of records alone no longer pays the bill that is owed to the Record Label due to declining CD sales as a result of downloading. Now Record Label will ask for a cut of the tour profits that were once all for the artists.

David Bowie was accused of selling out when he put out the disco sounding "Let's Dance". The truth is that Bowie is constantly changing and experimenting and has had as many failures (Tin Machine with Soupy Sale's 2 sons) as he has had monstrous hits. Other acts just change with the evolving music scene (Genesis). There are few artists that can just go out and produce the type of stuff they want without interference from the recording industry. Even Neil Young had a major legal battle on his hands when the record he tried to put out wasn't what the Label wanted.

Today many of the major acts of old are touring to cash in on their popularity through Classic Rock Radio Stations or movies that use their material as part of the soundtrack. An artist can make about 5 times the money by playing the Casino circuit than it can by doing a small venue tour in Night Clubs or small soft seat theaters.

The last point is that a true musician just wants to play. That's what they live for and if people still want to pay to hear them then all the better. Others just miss having their ego stroked.

Only the artist truly knows if they have sold out and unless you are one of the few who have first hand inner circle knowledge you may never know. Don't confuse cashing in on their success with selling out. Many of these acts paid a heavy price and went hungry on more than a few occasions to get where they are today so allow them the opportunity to reap from all the sowing they did over the years

Learn more about this author, Al Reilly.
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