Commercial Success or Artistic Purity? - Is an Artist Who Pursues Success “Selling Out?”

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One of our missions here at Disc Makers is to help artists like you be more successful while pursuing your musical passions.
This is why our CEO, Tony van Veen, frequently offers tips and advice about how to gain fans and maximize your music income. Invariably, when he touches on those topics, some artists chime in about musicians “selling out” when they pursue financial success. 🤷‍♂️
So, in today’s video, Tony delves into some of the questions surrounding this topic of artistic purity vs. commercial success:
• Are they mutually exclusive?
• Is one preferable over the other?
• Is it possible to achieve commercial success without working on the “business side” of music?
Check it out if you’ve been frustrated with how your career has been progressing (heck, it’s worth watching just to catch a glimpse of the incredible hat Tony wears in the video!) 😅
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[@pbenson56fran]

If an artist wants to get paid that is not selling out. I love singing. But, why should I sing for free for someone elses advantage. I have sung for free and loved it. It was singing for seniors that's not free that's love for them. Years ago I did not think about marketing. When I rehearse now I include marketing so I won't forget when I perform. I let people know where my music is located. I make sure I thank everyone. I learned that tip from David Hooper. Thank you for this reminder Tony van Veen. Have a great day.

[@missionroadduo]

100,000 tracks uploaded to Spotify every day. That puts it all into perspective.

[@JohnPaulRiger]

Great video, live and let live! Love it!

[@stevengovorchin]

Tony, as usual, I agree with your message. It is always satisfying to listen to your presentations and this is a good example. Now as it just so turns out, the choice of commercial success versus artistic purity isn't going to be a dilema for me because I don't have enough musical talent to write music that is targeted for one or the other; I can only write what flows out of me.

[@GuillermoCuellarTrovAutor]

It's a great topic, certanly. I go along with both!

[@keithsumner7338]

Real good perspective.

[@Onarres2much827]

Thanks Tony! This was actually helpful for me to put things in perspective in a sense that really helped me to understand the difference between what I’m doing and what I want to do 💯 this was very very motivating! I’m grateful you shared this… just the motivation I needed too ‼️‼️‼️ I’m going to look into disc makers for my next single release ❤

[@Standswithsong]

Couldn't agree more! Great commentary 👌

[@robertkeats4985]

Thank you, Tony for another excellent commentary. I use the word "integrity" rather than "purity", but I have seen interviews with commercially successful recording artists who differentiate between songs that are written with the intention of creating a hit, and songs that are created for personal expression. From my perspective, the ideal would be to have a hit with a song that is written for personal expression. Nevertheless, I agree completely with your comments. As I see it, if we want fans to support our music, we have to let them know that we have something to offer to them, as well as where and how they can find it.

[@brothersonguitar]

Very good way to explain it also love disc makers I have used your services in the past

[@wesleymarkmusic403]

Thanks Tony. Great insight as always.

[@masonpm]

I thoroughly enjoy your commentaries. As an unknown newbie I am learning so much from you! Thanks 🙏

[@tonyvv]

🙏🙏🙏

[@Visionary0001]

In reality, it has to be BOTH, with an emphasis on business at the beginning, or you'll never get off the ground. In the beginning and intermediate stages of your career, it needs to be 70% Business and 30% Artistic Purity. After you've reached your desired plateau, you can change things to a 50/50 ratio, or even 60% Artistic Purity, and only 40% Business.

[@rogerbourne4377]

I stopped trying to write hits some years ago. The scene was changing so fast and technology was taking over. I'm old school that was not my scene. Then wow! I thought I'll write what I want to, what I'm good at, what I like. And guess what, I started writing much better songs that had feeling and emotion. Write what you are really happy with before you try to sell it and if others don't rate it maybe they know nothing.

[@rydarh]

Well for me as an artist ' the two of them' that is artistic purity and commercial success are not mutually exclusive because the true test of artistic purity is commercial success. I invest a considerable amount of time and money into making music and having that music distributed so that people can hear and listen to my song. It is only fair that I get paid for the amount of work I put into making good music, especially since I am living of my music, so if that is commercialisation and a sell-off to some people ' so be it.

[@shadowsearcy]

Thank you, Tony! “Yes, we sell out…every show.” Jason Neustead of Metallica. Something else, don’t get into music as a way to escape responsibility; you’ll be extremely disappointed!

[@jawvees2585]

Great stuff 🎉

[@Lachenmann7]

Time and time again, and the same--singular--truth every time: nobody can make money in music now, except for a handful of very old pop artists (from the seventies, in the main); the creme de la creme of classical soloists & major orchestra members; and a select few jazz/contemporary improvisation artists. The possibility for truth and purity to emerge has, perhaps, never been more probable. Let's just stop fantasizing about making money in the music world, and get to work creating the possibility for art to emerge. Money and music need never be mentioned again. We're wasting our time and not creating 'meaning.' Let's do something meaningful.

[@Muzika.Ot.Maria.Hiteva]

Well, doesn’t it have to do with what your goals are? Desired results…;)

[@pbenson56fran]

I will agree with that statement.

[@stevechandler8098]

Amazing music is great but if nobody hears it it's like the proverbial tree falling in the forest, the argument can be made that it doesn't exist.

[@GigaTodd]

🤔🌎