Sellout: The Major Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore (1994–2007)

Music writer Ozzi spins a fast-paced story of a music industry in search of the next big thing and the “indie rock signing blitz” that set off “punk’s second brush with mainstream interest.” Drawing on interviews and personal stories, Ozzi vividly profiles 11 bands—from Green Day and Jimmy Eat World to the Donnas and My Chemical Romance—exploring their controversial decisions to sign with major labels at the risk of “being banished, ostracized, or forever branded as sellouts.” When Green Day, for instance, signed with Reprise Records, their album Dookie climbed Billboard charts, launching their career. But when word got out about their signing, they were banned from the local venue where they got their start. The reaction to Green Day was so volatile that Jawbreaker vigorously denied rumors of going with a major label. After they signed with DGC Records their 1995 album Dear You tanked and, soon after, the band broke up, “a notorious, cautionary tale about what happens when a band breaks its promise never to sell out.” At the same time, other bands like Blink-182 successfully reached larger audiences after their moves to larger labels. Throughout, Ozzi’s crisp prose and vibrant storytelling colorfully capture a flamboyant chapter in music history. This accomplishes what the best music books do: drive readers back to listening. Agent: David Patterson, Stuart Krichevsky Literary. (Oct.)