it's interesting that in the space of a generation we went from "selling out" being the worst thing a DIY artist/band could do to YouTubers selling merch/taking sponsorships/plugging stuff like six times per video and their fans are like "yeah, I respect the hustle, get paid"

And I don't think we are "more capitalist" now than we were in the mega-capitalist ultra-lacking-in-self-awareness 90's (the opposite, in fact) - I think young people now just accept more that there's less safety net now and that people have to pay rent. Thanks, '08 recession!

in conclusion, "selling out" is and always was a shit concept fueled by jealousy and tall poppy syndrome and built on a foundation of privilege, and maybe the 90's were bad actually