People Who Don't Like Onions Suck

Renowned music site Pitchfork describes the band The Pains of Being Pure At Heart as “principled” for declining lots of money to license their music for TV ads. “Not self righteous, just rather be unknown than known for that…”, the band is quoted as saying. The implication being, of course, that artists who do make money from licensing are sellouts artistically.

In my opinion, this is like saying people who don’t like onions suck. It’s really up to the individual bands/artists. If it works within the framework of an artist’s concept of success and creativity, fine. If not, fine. The only selling out is when an artist eschews their art for the pure sake of commercialism. But I firmly believe that art and success – while they may not make the easiest of bedfellows – are not mutually exclusive.

UPDATE 1/19/11: Here’s another take on this trend.

What’s your opinion on the subject?

Posted Tuesday December 14, 2010
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Comment

  1. Sadly to say, the use of music in commercials is one of the best forms of exposure for artists. This is particularly true in the world of indie music. Bands like Band of Horses, Feist, and The Walkmen (to name a few) have gathered critical exposure through use in commercials. Heaven knows radio will not help these artists.

    I think there’s too big of a fear of selling out these days. Similar to what you said, I only view it as a sell out when an artist changes his or her style for the exclusive purpose of popularity.

    But please, let’s get another analogy besides onions. I don’t like onions.

    — "The Ghost" · Dec 14, 16:28 · #

  2. “Heaven knows radio will not help these artists.”

    How true!

    Sorry about the onions analogy, but that’s kinda the point. Artists who license their music aren’t necessarily unprincipled, just as people who don’t like onions don’t necessarily suck.

    — Combo Platter · Dec 14, 17:11 · #

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