How to Deal when Your Favorite Band Gets Famous

If I hear one more person call their "ex" favorite band a sellout just because MTV starts playing their video, I am going to kick them in the shins.

Let's begin by defining the term "sell-out" because I think it is getting some bad press lately. So, by definition, a "sellout" is somebody who has betrayed a principle or for personal gain, i.e. money. Therefore, if a band signs to a major record label, makes a video that gets played on MTV, but still plays the same songs that they did when you saw them in the little coffee shop when you were fifteen, what about that deems them sellouts? If anything, you should be glad that the little band you supported for five years is finally getting the break they deserve.

Now, let's define "music snob." These are the people who crawl around the coffee shops, looking for bands with no fan base, and considering themselves "cool" because they like something that nobody has ever heard of, and continuously flaunt the fact that they don't like anything mainstream. Then, when people start to like the band that they like, they automatically hate them, and hate all the people who like the band they used to adore. They can never like a band who has more than 100 fans because it takes the "coolness factor" away from them. They're selfish. They want to "own" the music because "they were there first." Now, there is nothing wrong with loving independent music and underground bands - it is when you flaunt it like you are the coolest person ever just because you don't listen to anything mainstream that makes you a music snob.

Who cares if someone else likes the same band that you do! To start hating a band just because they become popular is equally as trendy as loving a band because they're popular. You only like the band to earn yourself the proverbial "coolness factor" and you, yourself, are a sell-out.

It's time to make a distinction,. Let's say your favorite band is suddenly getting radio and MTV play, and then they release a new album, and they've become trite, their style has changed, their music and lyrics are no longer infused with the passion you know they had, when you see them play the big venues, they look like they could care less, they see their old fans and ignore them, and the only thing that reminds you that they're the band you used to see in the coffee shop is their name. When this happens, you have permission take out your little red stamp, and stamp "Sell-Out" on their CD cover, their foreheads, and anything else associated with them.

But, as long as your favorite band still has the same style and enthusiasm for music as they did when you were watching them in the coffee shop that only held twenty people, what reason do you have to hate them? The only thing that has changed is that they're getting more press, which means they can afford to do more stuff, like tour, and record more music - both of which are expensive, but both of which give you the opportunity to bask in the greatness of the music you love. Yes, you might no longer be able to wipe the sweat off the singer's forehead while you stand in front of his mic stand at shows, but you can still go and rock out and have a good time - along with the other five thousand people who have grown to share your passion for their music. Hey, you never know - you might make a friend.