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For me, the concept of "selling out" most strongly applies to bands, though I would apply it to anything with a significant long-term audience.

In terms of music, it is when a band begins gritty and in later albums becomes smoother, more polished, more saleable,

/tag/sellouts+bands

I've always imagined little suppliers being strong-armed by corporate interest and the greed brought by success. People in suits dictating what they can and cannot do, "for their better interest" and who end up siphoning off of their success. This sort of thing.

Again for music, it is when a huge industry has bright eyed innocents pitch to bands, locking them into a contract, manipulating their art into a product packaged for an audience like so much cologne. Occasionally nice, but fashionable garbage.

You'll see it in music, movies, games and probably other places.

• The Truth About Popular Music