Selling Well or Selling Out?

The indie-rock world is abuzz with the news that one of its own has claimed the #1 spot on the record charts.  It may be brief (the displaced Eminem is likely to be back in #1 by the end of this week), but it is a big deal - and not everyone is happy about it.

Anytime a musician or band builds up a loyal following and then breaks through to wider sales success, you inevitably hear cries of “sell out!” from aggrieved fans (see Nirvana, 1992). 

If selling well means selling out, then Arcade Fire can only be considered a “relative sell out.”  Sure, The Suburbs, their new album, opened at #1, but with only 156,000 units sold.  Back in Nirvana’s day, that would have been a blip on the screen.  Plus, their previous album, Neon Bible, opened at #2, so it’s not like they haven’t appeared at the top of the pops before. 

But some people don’t like the way Arcade Fire got to #1 – by cutting a deal with Amazon that allowed people to buy the new album for $3.99.  Basically, Amazon was using The Suburbs as a “loss-leader,” a high-visibility sales item that just gets customers in the door (virtually speaking), and listeners were taking advantage. 

But wait – I thought we were supposed to be complaining that people weren’t buying music.  Are we gonna start complaining now that they’re not paying enough? 

Good sales do not make you a sellout - changing what you do to chase those good sales numbers does.  The Suburbs is typical Arcade Fire - full of their expansive and emotional sound.  For better or worse, Arcade Fire has always wanted to be the indie-rock version of U2 (as anyone who’s ever seen them live can tell). If that makes them a sell out, then they were a sell-out before they ever sold a single disc. 

And the album itself?  Great beginning, strong finish, and a long journey that meanders a bit but is worth taking. 

What do you think of the new Arcade Fire album?  Leave a comment.