Top 30 Biggest Musical Sellouts
From punk rockers gone pop to underground MCs hitting the mainstream, these artists put profits before principles! Join us as we count down the musicians who most blatantly abandoned their artistic roots for commercial success. Our list includes rock legends, hip-hop icons, and pop superstars who traded creative integrity for chart positions. We’ll examine Rod Stewart’s disco pivot, Metallica’s softened sound, Taylor Swift’s country-to-pop transformation, and how KISS turned merchandising into an art form. From Weezer’s pop sensibilities to Gwen Stefani’s punk-to-diva evolution, these artists drastically changed their sound to reach wider audiences. Who do you think is the biggest musical sellout? Let us know in the comments!
Become a channel member to get access to special perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaWd5_7JhbQBe4dknZhsHJg/join
Play our Daily Point Battles to earn MojoPoints and qualify for CASH BATTLES! Check it out: WatchMojo.com/play
Have your idea become a video!
https://wmojo.com/suggest
Subscribe for more great content!
https://wmojo.com/watchmojo-subscribe
Visit our shop for awesome merch!
https://shop.watchmojo.com/
Your trusted authority for Top 10 lists, reviews, tips and tricks, biographies, origins, and entertainment news
#Music #Rock #Pop #HipHop #Metallica #TaylorSwift #KISS #Sellouts #Musicians #Bands #Artists #Controversy
@WatchMojo
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Who do you think is the biggest musical sellout? Let us know in the comments!
For more content like this, click here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmZTDWJGfRq2nSrdQVvf2O9i_cKZP2nqV&si=ACHtyp_ZcuUhY0oK
@jasonbodden8816
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
This video is so stupid LOL.
@htown4175
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
The Joshua Tree is one of the best albums ever. This list sucks ass
@jpetersgoyanks
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Being a sellout is BS! It’s snob talk BS.
@craigcampbell8560
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
I understand the need for ads, but there are WAY to fucking many ads in your videos now. They have become unwatchable. You get a rare, but WELL earned thumbs down from me for that. Fear not, I won't be watching your videos any more because this isn't the first time because it has become EVERY time. Shame a once good channel now sucks.
@gregdinardo2119
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Dave Grohl is the Jerry Seinfeld of music – I'm not even sure what that means, but it just felt right. It's not a criticism, it's not a compliment, it just feels like a fact (it isn't) that needed to be voiced.
@Lynette-b6d
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
So, they sold out because they went from being obscure and poor, to reaching the masses and becoming successful? Ooooookay.
@ScottyB_711
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Metallica is number one to me ! lol I like the first album the rest just commercial crap . Like the band crap 💩 as a metal head they are the worse .
@Crash32378
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Everyone needs to stop with the "they sold out" BS. If "selling out" means they don't have to play seedy bars with questionable security measures then let them sell out. If you wanted them to be successful with their original music maybe you should have bought more albums or promoted them more so they could make a living and not have to put their lives on the line playing in clubs you like to drink yourself into stupor in.
@koontakentaylor
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Click-bait video.
With multiple ads every minute-37, there's one sellout they left off their list.
@harryfyhr4010
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Bullshit list
@WeirdScienceComics
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
What i see is that if bands try to stay relevant, watchmojo claims sellout
@WeirdScienceComics
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
What a bullshit list
@bp-ob8ic
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
You forgot to mention that Foo Fighters also jammed with Rick Astley.
Look it up, It's actually pretty good.
@dianaswan7655
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Snoop 's "selling out"is not (entirely)about artistic decisions 😕😞
@cassiebloemendaal7694
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Heart aren't sellouts their Icons
@TheRedMosquito
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Outkast should be on here
@alexloper5023
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
U2 Dif sold out
@alexloper5023
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Jewel did the same thing that Taylor Swift did
@TheRedMosquito
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
I agree with this list. Good job. It is hard to believe the same people who gave us the song White Rabbit did We Built This City
@bobhigley8522
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Defiler, changed their name to Visiting Day and lost all their street cred they got from recording in Denmark.
@SteveBender-gr5kh
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Peter Cetera happened to Chicago 😢 Jefferson Starship did put out a classic with Red Octopus 🐙
@Vinyl_Resting_Place
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Silly to think selling out is possible evolution. Not every band wants to stay obscure and broke. And as most bands evolve, they change. Some for good. Some not so good. But because a band does mainstream rock or pop, doesn't mean they are any less. Like you said, bands without a single hit changed. And next, they can pay their bills.. and make a living. Those that want to stay wild and out there can.
@dougbooth3161
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
I say make all the money that you can. Recording artists are getting screwed at every turn. I don't shame any of them for anything they do to get paid.
@KruppeMule
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
U2 didn't become sellouts. They just became popular. And then quickly became unpopular after the Apple debacle, because God knows, don't put free music on my phone that I don't have to listen to… outrageous!
@3Dsusan
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
people grow and change with time tastes and music evolve that doesn't make them sell outs
@RodrigoFernandez-k2i
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Rod Stewart? Silly. Do ya think Im sexy is great
@linsioux217
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
We built this City on Rock and Roll and These Dreams were co-written by Bernie Taupin, Elton John's lyrist.
@agentooe33AD
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
it's amazing how many of these bands/artists talk about muh socialism and muh anti-capitalist system, all while making millions of dollars playing an instrument in a capitalist society. Friggin hypocrisy of the highest order.
@JacquelineNewman-j4r
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
MGK is a REAL sellout. despicable human being. shoulda definitely made this list.
@smith.l.25
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
I didn't watch this video, but I demand that you take back anything mean you said about Liz. You have no idea what you're talking about.
@thomasjefferson7359
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Don't agree that these bands sold out.
@LeotheOrangeCat
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
is this still a relevant category?
@palmfirevisuals8269
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
RATM? Really? For what, now? Signing with Sony and being featured in movies like The Matrix? Glad I'm not subscribed to this channel. What a meta sellout joke.
@hamachi21
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
This list is pointless and annoying gatekeeping. (Starship sucks, yes that's true.)
@THEChoinowski
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Indeed late Fallout Boy, BMTH, some of the worst sounds mankind ever produced
@TheRst1983
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
All of this is a sham. Can a band or an artist evolve, without being called guilty of selling out?
@rhino4me887
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
This is really bad
@acidgougewaltz
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
no doubt/gwen stefani……. it's almost like a sorta decent looking woman has some secret advantage in the world of show biz, irrespective of talent or integrity
@julesjma
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Guess becoming famous and making more money is selling out then. Ok, Dude.
@klepetar
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
i didn't mind the Heart 80's era.. it was catchy..
@J---d
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Yea they sold out a lot. These are very famous musicians and they easily sold out shows.. people paid way higher than the ticket prices on secondary markets to see the show. No one is going to pay money to see watchmojo videos, ever.
@jkdubya85
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Rage Against the Machine never sold out! They were always frauds.
@hadokenchild
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
WatchMojo doesn't seem to understand that licensing is done by the rights holders, which is generally held by the record company, NOT the artist. So calling someone a "sellout" for licensing their music to other mediums is most likely misguided.
@BootuInc
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
This sure does sound like an AI narrator especially considering the many mistakes and weird pronounciations throughout. There's no one listed in the description or the video either, so it sure does seem like that's what they've done. Sorry Watch Mojo, if you can't be bothered to hire someone to narrate your videos that have an ad break ever 2 minutes then I can't be bothered to watch your stuff
AI voice and art creation tools are soulless and the irony of Watch Mojo using them while putting out a video calling artists sellouts is not lost on me. Good riddance WM, I can't in good conscience consume your product anymore
@robfrydryck127
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
This content creator has no clue. Probably can’t even play an instrument.
@Telecasterland
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
I disagree with 1991 being the problem for Metallica. Napster yes but it was LOAD not BLACK.
@wanderlking8634
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Good list (though some of those acts were always in it for the money). This video reminded me of the following verse:
All you know about me is what I've sold ya, dumbf—
I sold out long before you'd ever even heard my name
I sold my soul to make a record, dips–t
And then you bought one – *Tool*, who probably never actually sold out
@jmc6567
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
Why does the voice over quality change on a buch of your videos?
You make so many of these vids, you can't figure this shit out?
@metamyther
October 8, 2025 at 2:56 pm
The Offspring definitely have to be on this list.
Comments are closed.