# Spurlock Movie.. Who hasn't sold out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 20, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566 "2011-05-20T14:40:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/1 "2011-05-20T14:40:44Z")
Just saw Morgan Spurlock’s movie “The Greatest movie ever sold”… and I would def recommend it. A part of the movie focused on artist not selling their music and Donald Trump stated that he contacted several of these artists and they turned down millions… That and the fact that kids under 17 believe the WHo are the band who did the CSI themes got me to wondering who hasn’t sold out. Me and the pretty scientist came up with Pink Floyd. Has anyone seen any Floyd music used in commercials or licensed?? Anyone else?? ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/2 "2011-05-20T14:51:05Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > That and the fact that kids under 17 believe the WHo are the band who did the CSI themes got me to wondering who hasn’t sold out. [The Who](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrF_BGLdy-o), before CSI, Odorono, or Heinz Baked Beans. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/3 "2011-05-20T14:57:35Z")
Neil Young famously didn’t want to “look like a joke”. I don’t think he’s gone back on that yet. [This was donated](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qky6HR4XlJg), for something he probably supports - not sure if you consider that selling out. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/4 "2011-05-20T16:00:44Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > Me and the pretty scientist came up with Pink Floyd. Has anyone seen any Floyd music used in commercials or licensed?? Anyone else?? Floyd sold out to Dole Bananas: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zb510ju771o/hqdefault.jpg "Pink Floyd Banana Commercial - Dark Side of the Banana") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb510ju771o) ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/5 "2011-05-20T17:17:43Z")
Tom Waits. Not only does not do commercials, but has [successfully sued](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Waits#Lawsuits) advertisers for using Tom Waits soundalikes in commercials. I’d probably still think TW was a genius even if he’d totally sold out, but his integrity makes him even more admirable. I wish there were more like him. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/6 "2011-05-20T17:36:32Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > Tom Waits. Although it’s impossible to imagine _The Wire_ without that theme song. Does it still count as “selling out” if it’s for a work of utter genius? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/7 "2011-05-20T17:45:06Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > Although it’s impossible to imagine _The Wire_ without that theme song. Does it still count as “selling out” if it’s for a work of utter genius? What about the song for one of the Shrek movies, “A Little Drop of Poison”? ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/8 "2011-05-20T18:27:49Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > What about the song for one of the Shrek movies, “A Little Drop of Poison”? I don’t think doing music for a movie is considered selling out by most people. Certainly not to the extent of letting your songs be used in a commercial. I don’t have a problem with the Who letting their music be used as theme songs. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/9 "2011-05-20T20:10:40Z")
Underground cartoonist Robert Crumb [turned down $100,000 from Toyota](http://books.google.com/books?id=4UnTP7Fxm-0C&lpg=PA189&ots=F7sQx7z5ic&dq=Robert%20crumb%20toyota&pg=PA189#v=onepage&q=Robert%20crumb%20toyota&f=false) for his [_Keep On Truckin’_ artwork](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_on_Truckin%27_%28comic%29), as well as refusing Absolut Vodka’s proposed Absolut Crumb ad - a particular bit of whoredom indulged in by every big name in art. It is one thing to say “I’m not going sell out”. It is quite another when they actually have their checkbook open. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/10 "2011-05-20T20:36:58Z")
I believe Bill Watterson fits the category of a non-sellout. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/11 "2011-05-20T20:56:13Z")
Bill Watterson is a GREAT example. Look at how much Charles Shultz has (and continues) to make. Calvin and Hobbes could be somewhere near that level. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/12 "2011-05-20T21:01:58Z")
Pretty sure the Boss has knocked back serious money for advertising over the years. Not in the US though, so I don’t know if he’s still maintaining this stance. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/13 "2011-05-20T21:08:05Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > Pretty sure the Boss has knocked back serious money for advertising over the years. Not in the US though, so I don’t know if he’s still maintaining this stance. Apparently there is no stigma (maybe not even the concept) of “selling out” in Japan. American celebrities will sell stuff there that would be career suicide to sell in the US (Vodka, cigarettes, fur coats, condoms, tampons, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/14 "2011-05-20T21:10:03Z")
I never understood this idea that it’s some kind of moral failure to license your artwork for other purposes. Why does taking a phat check to put your song in a Cheerios commercial detract from the artistic merit of the song or the artist? It’s absurd. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/15 "2011-05-20T21:46:45Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I never understood this idea that it’s some kind of moral failure to license your artwork for other purposes. Why does taking a phat check to put your song in a Cheerios commercial detract from the artistic merit of the song or the artist? It’s absurd. I think so too. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/16 "2011-05-20T22:19:46Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I never understood this idea that it’s some kind of moral failure to license your artwork for other purposes. Why does taking a phat check to put your song in a Cheerios commercial detract from the artistic merit of the song or the artist? It’s absurd. So, if, for instance, the KKK offered you “a phat check” to associate yourself with their message, you’d be comfortable taking the money? How about Al Queda? Is their money OK with you? Now, you might not feel that accepting money for advertising junk food is similar to accepting money from evil incarnate, but some of us feel that it is only a matter of degree. Some people - me for instance - feel that the ad biz, as it has developed in our modern mass media societies, is a blight. A terrible and destructive blight. I expect that seems “absurd” to you, but that’s the way it is. …and before you say it, yes, people need to pay the rent and put food on the table. I’m not talking about struggling artists feeding their starving children here, I’m talking about established artists who are already making a comfortable living. Big difference. Yes, you need to eat and to have a roof over your head. No, you don’t need a luxury car and a summer house. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/17 "2011-05-20T22:48:22Z")
The fact that you want to link commercials with terrorism is more than just absurd. I hate greed, too, and appreciate people who don’t give into it. But then why don’t you feel the same ire for Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, or some other rich person? No, the idea of selling out is based on some weird idea that the work is somehow soiled by being used by someone else. And that’s pretentious bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/18 "2011-05-20T22:56:41Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > No, you don’t need a luxury car and a summer house. Sez who? Slee ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/19 "2011-05-20T23:24:31Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > So, if, for instance, the KKK offered you “a phat check” to associate yourself with their message, you’d be comfortable taking the money? How about Al Queda? Is their money OK with you? Now, you might not feel that accepting money for advertising junk food is similar to accepting money from evil incarnate, but some of us feel that it is only a matter of degree. Clue: Cheerios != KKK. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566/20 "2011-05-20T23:30:09Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Clue: Cheerios != KKK. So it’s okay to license for some purposes, but not others? What did you mean by “other purposes”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spurlock-movie-who-hasnt-sold-out/582566.md?page=2)