Part 7/14:
They delve into the phenomenon of artists changing their image or style after achieving mainstream success—Metallica’s shift after the Black Album is mentioned as an example. Some fans felt betrayed when bands moved away from their underground roots, perceiving it as “selling out.” However, the panelists point out that bands like Metallica arguably maintained their integrity and that earlier works didn’t necessarily suffer from commercialization.
This leads to a broader reflection: the boundary between artistic integrity and commercial enterprise is ambiguous, and success itself isn’t inherently betrayal. The focus should perhaps shift from reputation to personal fulfillment and artistic honesty.