Top 20 Biggest Musical Sellouts

Top 20 Biggest Musical Sellouts

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the most brazen examples of musical acts that changed their sound and public brand to capitalize on a broader market.

#20: Weezer

Weezer changed the image of rock stars in the ‘90s. The nerdy punks were outcasts among outcasts, acclaimed for their clever lyrics and ironically edged tone. But after mixed reactions to the Puccini-inspired album “Pinkerton”, they went on hiatus. The subsequent comeback was marked by cornier pop sensibilities, especially after the teeny bopper hit “Beverly Hills”. Weezer continued to enjoy great success with a straight-faced take on pop rock, much to classic fans’ lack of enjoyment. Newer listeners and critics have generally appreciated the experimentation, including with more classic styles going into the 2020s. Of course, with those styles entailing a cover album and hair metal homages, Weezer aren’t as subversive as they used to be.

#19: Thirty Seconds to Mars

Movie star frontman Jared Leto initially gave Thirty Seconds to Mars more commercial appeal than most experimental rock bands. With guitarist Tomo Miličević, they began exploring an alternative aesthetic that truly matched critical acclaim with mainstream success. They even exposed persisting music industry injustices with a high-profile lawsuit against EMI Records. That’s why it’s so frustrating that the band went full pop after the personnel was reduced to Jared and Shannon Leto. Even for a group known for genre-bending, this was a drastic shift. Many critics and fans were disappointed, but Thirty Seconds has never been more popular. Who needs EMI when you have lucrative pop labels like Interscope and Concord? Well, they don’t offer much for rock loyalists.

#18: Bring Me the Horizon

It was hard to accuse Bring Me the Horizon of selling out when they first abandoned deathcore. Following their debut album's lukewarm reception, the band won a dedicated following with elevated melodic metalcore. They even developed a unique level of mainstream appeal for that genre. This naturally continued when Oli Sykes stopped screaming altogether for 2015’s “That's the Spirit”. Still, extreme metalheads were shocked by the shift to pop and electronic rock from there. BMTH were finally chart-toppers, but they divided fans. Some appreciated their experimentation within a lighter sound, while others were frustrated with the sound itself. Luckily, BMTH has been gradually returning to metalcore, with continued commercial success. For better or worse, it still took dulling their edge to get there.

#17: Nickelback

Some believe the love-em-or-hate-em lore of Nickelback goes back to the beginning. In fact, they were a hit early on for bringing rugged ‘90s grunge into the 2000s. Many even consider their breakout single “How You Remind Me” to be a genuine classic. However, suspicions of trend-leaching arose as Nickelback drifted from grunge to generic, pop-oriented hard rock. The sentimental power ballads and sleazy party anthems particularly polarized listeners. Before long, backlash online and from the rock community became a cliché in its own right. Nickelback remains one of the best-selling rock bands of our time, with a quietly ample fanbase. But they continue to openly embrace the mainstream brand, even as a group people love to hate.

#16: Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy were a fixture of 2000s pop-punk, emphasis on “pop”. Their infectious and subversive energy hooked a cult fanbase, before the album “From Under the Cork Tree” broke them out. They continued to balance dynamic musicianship and stardom until they disbanded in 2009. By then, though, Fall Out Boy had started to fall into pop tropes with their music and industry brand. This trend continued after they regrouped in 2013. They even collaborated with the likes of DJ Steve Aoki, rappers Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, and Taylor Swift. Many fans have fallen out with Fall Out Boy over this loss of irony. But they can't argue with the band’s growing success, or their return to form with 2023’s “So Much (for) Stardust”.

#15: Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon have always been a proper family affair for the Followills. Their nitty-gritty mix of garage rock and bluesy southern rock moved critics, but saw uneven sales. With “Only by Night”, focus moved more toward anthemic hooks and other commercial elements. The album was a worldwide sensation, spawning the signature songs “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody”. New fans didn't realize that these hits were a departure from Kings of Leon’s edgier early work. The band itself seemed to lose sight of that as they drifted into alternative and indie. The Followills may still be truly independent artists, but their prosperity has come at the expense of a truly original style.

#14: Foo Fighters

As the drummer for Nirvana, Dave Grohl represented ‘90s grunge at its rawest. He really changed his tune as frontman for the Foo Fighters. The post-grunge trailblazers became one of the biggest bands around, mixing brighter hard rock into alternative grit. And yet, over time, they’ve become a parody of this persona. Grohl’s relatively wholesome image and music industry networking are a far cry from the late Kurt Cobain’s cynicism. By the 2010s, the Foo Fighters completely pivoted to mainstream rock and even pop. Never mind jamming with David Lee Roth, Justin Timberlake and Deadmau5. The Foo Fighters remain highly respected as true music lovers. But, however you feel about it, they may formally represent the demise of anti-establishment grunge.

#13: Sugar Ray

Contrary to their name, Sugar Ray wasn't always so sweet. They spent most of the ‘90s in the nu metal craze, with edgy funk and risqué imagery. They also mingled many genres without scoring a proper hit. Then, the mostly heavy album “Floored” took a turn into reggae fusion with “Fly”. The unexpected summer sensation convinced Sugar Ray to clean up their act with frilly pop rock. They became one of the hottest party bands of the early 2000s; and even many critics warmed up to them. Still, it was such a radical stylistic change that metal fans had to admit that Sugar Ray were in that genre for the fad. At least the band has never really acted otherwise.

#12: Rage Against the Machine

Selling out doesn’t always mean sacrificing your sound, or even your politics. Rage Against the Machine did more than set the standard for rap metal. They brought an intensely anti-capitalist, anti-establishment agenda to a wide audience. But many true believers believe they sold their soul to do it. RATM’s star-making deal with Epic Records, a subsidiary of Sony, sparked underground controversy. Then came the merch, the movie soundtracks, and more. Guitarist Tom Morello maintains that fortune was a small price to pay to promote the cause. He and his bandmates remain dedicated socialism activists and philanthropists. Alas, the consistently growing music industry presence and concert prices, with no new material over two reunions, point to the revolution being co-opted.

#11: Gwen Stefani

It’s not unusual for band members to go a more mainstream direction in their solo careers. But Gwen Stefani is a case unlike any other. The ska punk outfit No Doubt made the singer an alternative idol throughout the ‘90s. Their unique style and underdog spirit superseded the pop elements. By the time No Doubt first disbanded, Stefani became one of the music industry’s most quintessential pop stars. From dance, to hip-hop, to a Christmas album, she’s achieved immense commercial success on her own. Bringing that flamboyant persona to other media and fashion design has further made her iconic. It’s hard to believe that this pop diva was once a punk, but Stefani herself admits that her lucrative solo brand was contrived.

#10: Aerosmith

Throughout the 1970s, Aerosmith was one of the biggest bands in the world. However, in the 1980s, internal conflicts ruined the band, and their popularity suffered as a result, making for some less-than-stellar years for the once great group. In order to regain their status as rock and roll kings, they collaborated with rap group Run-D.M.C. in a rather risky, but also genius, career move. Their following “Permanent Vacation” went on to go multi-platinum- restoring the band's cool factor until “I Don't Want to Miss a Thing” once again earned the ire of fans in 1998.

#9: Liz Phair

One of the most influential artists of the '90s, alt-rock queen Liz Phair could seemingly do no wrong by the turn of the millennium. That was until she was offered some extra cash to work with the masterminds behind pop stars Avril Lavigne and Hilary Duff. With the release of her 2003 self-titled pop-rock album, the backlash towards the singer was endless, with one review from Pitchfork giving the album a 0 out of 10 and accusing Phair of being reduced to “cheap publicity stunts”. The hate train didn't quite die down thereafter either, as her next two releases received mixed reviews. However, her 2021 album, “Soberish” brought her back to her indie rock roots, to positive reception.

#8: Nicki Minaj

Alright, alright… hear us out. Before “Super Bass” established Nicki as a pop star sensation, she was spitting fire as an underground rapper. And a pretty talented one at that! Originally signed to indie label Dirty Money Entertainment, Minaj quickly made a name for herself through several critically acclaimed mixtapes before becoming noticed by Lil Wayne. This was followed by her debut, Pink Friday, and being heavily featured on Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. One brief stint as a judge on American Idol, and a few highly successful - though some might say generic - mainstream pop songs later, and Nicki Minaj has longtime fans scratching their heads. And various personal controversies haven’t helped matters, either.

#7: David Guetta

Guetta is a DJ and remix artist from France known for a unique electro house sound that no one else can fully replicate. However, his third studio album, Pop Life featured vocals from popular British singer Tara McDonald. His collaborations didn't end there, as he was soon working with stars like Akon, Nicki Minaj, and Snoop Dogg, means he hasn't quite been able to shake his ties to pop music. We're not saying going pop inherently means selling out, but EDM fans in general and Guetta in particular has said that as he's found his mainstream groove, his music has lost its soul. Guetta's said frequently that he's not trying to be credible, he's trying to be incredible. We'll just leave that there.

#6: Taylor Swift

While T Swift was always a popular artist, you can clearly see when she started trying to court the widest audience possible. She started as a sweet and innocent country girl, singing cute tunes about boys and receiving acclaim and popularity for doing so. It wasn’t until 2012’s Red that listeners began noticing a distinct change in her sound. Then, 2014’s 1989 burst into full-blown pop territory. Soon enough, she went from being one of the most famous artists around, to being arguably the most famous person in the entire world. We doubt that would happen if she had stuck with country.

#5: Maroon 5

Don’t deny it. Songs like “Sunday Morning” and “This Love” were your jam back in the early 2000s. They were fun, light songs, but with meaning and care put behind them. So we imagine you were excited to see what the band had in store for you next. You may’ve been disappointed by what Adam Levine and the boys dished up, with some accusing them of focusing too much on the hunky and bankable looks of their frontman and not enough on actual musical artistry. Gone were the blue-eyed soul-inspired tunes of the group’s debut, and in their place were admittedly catchy, yet undeniably poppy productions that just didn’t live up to what fans had to expect from them.

#4: Coldplay

Coldplay was one of the most important legacies of Britpop in the 2000s. Their rich alternative anthems and haunting ballads led a new generation of British rock. But after they swept the Grammys with the art pop-oriented album “Viva la Vida”, the “art” part started to slip. Coldplay began to focus more on arena-filling hits and collaborations with the least alternative artists in the industry. That includes Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé, Selena Gomez and BTS. Chris Martin has even milked his image as an eccentric artist and frontman. Coldplay’s initial demographic has practically become their biggest haters. They may have never abandoned their personnel or personal artistry, but their stylistic shift is one of the most polarizing in modern rock.

#3: Metallica

Metallica was easily one of the best and most popular heavy metal bands throughout the '80s, creating masterpieces like Master of Puppets and ...And Justice for All, all played with rapid precision and power. Then 1991 happened. Critics and hardcore fans alike criticized the band’s eponymous album for its more radio-friendly direction, with softened guitars and lyrics. The band’s image changed as well, but – to the chagrin of avid listeners – these alterations were met with decent record sales and not abject failure. Ultimately, the final nail in the coffin was the Napster fiasco, when almost everyone – and not just the haters – finally accused the group of being a little too money-hungry!

#2: The Black Eyed Peas

Believe it or not, there was a time when The Black Eyed Peas weren’t singing about Humps and Feelings and Shutting Up. The group was created in 1992 and released some pretty decent alternative hip-hop albums, but they couldn’t quite find an audience. 2003’s Elephunk was the first album recorded with new band member Fergie, and the group found wild success with “Where Is the Love?” It was after that success that the band’s sound shifted sharply to a more party-style vibe, a change that was likely a drastic and frustrating one for longtime fans of BEP’s early underground work.

#1: Kiss

It’s not all bad for a band to sell out, at least when that’s already their brand. Kiss are undoubtedly talented rockers, with scores of infectious classics. But they’re equally recognized for their adaptiveness to pop and consumer trends across 50 years. They punctually latched onto disco, glam metal, grunge, and other hot genres. Meanwhile, the live shows kept getting more over-the-top. And virtually every merchandising opportunity imaginable was exploited. Some fans feel that this has diluted Kiss’s artistry over time. Others believe the band never hid their commercial ambitions. Either way, one of the most profitable rock acts of all time knows how to sell out right. The most important part is dedication to producing a quality product.


Which musicians do you feel changed for the better… for their bank accounts? Give your feedback in the comments.