What exactly constitutes a sell-out?

What constitutes a musical artist to be a sell-out?

• When do you consider a music artist to be a sellout? A lot of people have different interpretations of a sell-out like bands who suddenly gain a surge of popularity or who completely change their style. To me a sell-out is someone who doesn't make music true to themselves and let other elements come in and dictate how to they create music. Also going overboard with merchandising to the point that you disgrace your own brand is deplorable. I don't think popularity or money is an issue because the reality is a lot of artists make a lot of money and sell out concerts. That doesn't necessarily mean that they sold out. What do you think?

• Answer:

  personally i find a sell out when they start doing it for the money & not for the fans + getting these HUGE egos. coldplay for eg DIDN'T sell out, they are a unique band that deserves the popularity they get, i would go on to call them the band of the 00s in terms of influence/popularity/originality etc. neither did Red Hot Chili Peppers sell out by changing their style, no band wants to push out the same albums, look what happened when Oasis did that here we are 20 years later yet how many people know they have 8 odd albums barely anybody + it all sounds the same. most bands relied on their fans to get to & from gigs when they were small (paying for petrol etc) to turn around & for eg do what Axl Rose does on stage is just not nice.