Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994–2007)

Sellout by Dan Ozzi is one of the most enjoyable reads I have had in quite some time (within what I think of as "entertainment" reads, ones both about and for my entertainment) while also bringing to light the many conflicting aspects of the overused idea of selling out.

As a concept, selling out has a long history. Within music it easily predates punk and within other forms of entertainment, such as sports and writing, it goes back even further. And it is always a questionable idea when applied from the outside, in other words, by fans or journalists catering to those fans. Yet the vast majority of us have used it to discount what some celebrity, individual or collective like a team, has done that we felt went against what we expected. show more And, as some of the stories in this book show, those artists use the concept to pose as some kind of special entity for their fans, right up until they don't.

The thing that makes this book so much fun is that each example is interesting and will take many readers back to that time. So there is that nostalgia fun. There is also the fun that comes from being given the opportunity to think more deeply about an area we often only pretend to give serious thought to, art forms that serve to entertain.

Will a reader come away with a more sympathetic and understanding position about their old favorite band that "sold out?" Will the reader think just a bit longer about throwing this particular label on future celebrities that make a move or change that could be interpreted as selling out? Hard to say, the accusation alone offers a form of consolation when we feel left behind by our favorites, so we may well still hurl it. Maybe we will also know in our hearts that things are never quite that simple and clear cut.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. show less

Ozzi traces each band's rise from its very beginnings (formation, early shows and recordings, lineup changes, indie labels) through their first major label deal. The arc of each story is similar - concerns about selling out, struggles on tour, desire to retain creative control over output - but each band is distinct. To many bands, going to a major label enabled them to increase their reach: to tour more, in bigger venues, and make the music they wanted to make, and to earn a living. Many musicians/artists held the point of view that going to a major label wasn't selling out unless they changed the music they wanted to make. The risks, though, were real: fans (and even venues, like Gilman in San Francisco) could turn against them, show more labels could pay for the recording but then shelve the album or drop them. Interpersonal relationships could be a problem, between band members or others (managers, fans, A&R reps, producers), drugs and alcohol could be a problem, and the rise of online music (and online piracy) spelled doom for physical record sales. All the same, it was great to read about this era in such detail, and it sent me back to listen to a lot of these bands. (A shame no music could be included in the audiobook. Print edition includes a small section of photos (1-2 of each band).)

Green Day - Dookie (Reprise)
Jawbreaker - Dear You (DCG)
Jimmy Eat World - Static Prevails (Capitol)
Blink-182 - Dude Ranch (MCA)
At the Drive In - Relationship of Command (Grand Royal)
The Donnas - Spend the Night (Atlantic)
Thursday - War All the Time (Island)
The Distillers - Coral Fang (Sire)
My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (Reprise)
Rise Against - Siren Song of the Counter Culture (Geffen)
Against Me - New Wave (Sire) show less

I remember all the debates in high school about bands joining major labels. I really appreciate the brief history Dan does on each band and the great insight we get.

Been feeling pretty Blergh, this was super zippy and well paced. Loved every page of it, informative and a must read for like every 2000s kid I know.

excellent histories on a bunch of good bands. very few happy endings, of course, but still, a good read.