With a hat tip to atrios, I came across this bit of nonsense and I have to say, I agree with Duncan. What's the big deal?
I am actually quite tired of the notion that a musical group loses its "integrity" when it sells its music for commercial purposes. Indeed, Michael Stipe's insistence that "Our music is not for sale" is nonsense. You can't get it for free at the CD shop, can you? As for the Pixies and Sonic Youth - please. Their schtick is old, their music predictable, and their only claim to fame is that they don't sell a lot of discs. For some reason, lack of sales is a mark of "integrity" with some people. For me, lack of sales could also be a sign that the band in question sucks. Fugazi is a different story; they have never had a record deal. I saw them a coupe times when I was in DC, and they were interesting, and I thought they could have done more had they not decided to take a vow of poverty. Their secret is safe from the rest of the world, however, as they adamantly refuse to sign with a record company. More's the pity.
This idea that those musicians and groups that don't jump on the commercial bandwagon have more integrity and authenticity is silly and counter-productive. Some of the best music of the past fifty years has been produced by artists with contracts with the biggest record labels. The Beatles had a contract with Capitol Records, for crying out loud! I guess I'm silly to think the whole idea of becoming a musician is to reach as many people as possible with one's music. Corporations have quite happily subsidized all sorts of counter-cultural, even criminal, behavior amongst their stable of groups. To think that one's "principles" would be "compromised" by signing a record deal is a sophomoric idea. Principles are compromised all the time; the better the musician or group, the more leverage they have in how far such compromise might go. I see no reason other than the desire to be seen as a martyr against the evil of corporate governance in such self-destructive behavior.
If you are a musician, unless it is a part-time hobby, take atrios' advice - grab the money and run. You won't lose your soul, and you might just get the opportunity to reach all sorts of people you might not otherwise have reached. Or, sit around and parade your principles while you wait tables to supplement your "real career".
Virtual Tin Cup
