--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I was going to sell out, I would do it…" description: "\"If I was going to sell out, I would do it for more than 10,000 records.\" — Kurt Elling" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/kurt-elling-6944_going_if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it_581808.jpg" --- # If I was going to sell out, I would do it for more than… ![“If I was going to sell out, I would do it for more than 10,000 records.” quote by Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/kurt-elling-6944_going_if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it_581808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/kurt-elling-6944_going_if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it_581808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/kurt-elling-6944_going_if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it_581808.jpg) > “If I was going to sell out, I would do it for more than 10,000 records.” [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He would only sell out if the financial gain was huge, emphasizing artistic integrity over modest profit. **In simple terms:** Sell out only for massive profit. Key Takeaway Demand fair compensation for art. Themes integrity art commerce Mood reflective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - music contracts - tour negotiations - artist branding Key Concepts artist value market dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Is financial success worth compromising values? - How to balance art and profit? A Different Perspective Compromise may alienate core fans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I'd rather sell 10,000 records that represent me than 2 million that don't represent me at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-d-rather-sell-10-000-records-that-represent-me-than-2-million-that/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [We've sold over 100,000 records so far, and we're an independent label.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-hanson/we-ve-sold-over-100-000-records-so-far-and-we-re-an-independent-label/) [Isaac Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-hanson/) > [If you're going to sell stock and somebody wants to buy it at a price and that price is not a price you dictate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-diller/if-you-re-going-to-sell-stock-and-somebody-wants-to-buy-it-at-a-price/) [Barry Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-diller/) > [If you are going to sell yourself, you should at least get a good price.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/if-you-are-going-to-sell-yourself-you-should-at-least-get-a-good-price/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [That's the reality of what they're going to sell them to the Treasury for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/that-s-the-reality-of-what-they-re-going-to-sell-them-to-the-treasury/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Please sell $10,000 worth of stock — we have decided to lead a mad and extravagant life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crosby/please-sell-10-000-worth-of-stock-we-have-decided-to-lead-a-mad-and/) [Harry Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crosby/) > [Nobody's going to sell 10 million records by not working hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hall/nobody-s-going-to-sell-10-million-records-by-not-working-hard/) [Daryl Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hall/) > [You can be in the Bay and sell 10,000 copies of independent records and make 50 grand and that's your job for the year.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/you-can-be-in-the-bay-and-sell-10-000-copies-of-independent-records/) [Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/) > [This is how a group can sell 10 million records and be broke, and everybody get ready to do your math. There are 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-left-eye/this-is-how-a-group-can-sell-10-million-records-and-be-broke-and/) [Lisa Left Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-left-eye/) > [“After the war, it just seemed natural to take what you could take wherever you could take it. There was only so much blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/after-the-war-it-just-seemed-natural-to-take-what-you-could-take/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [I love it when people say things to me in public and want to meet me, because I want to meet them! Early on,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-love-it-when-people-say-things-to-me-in-public-and-want-to-meet-me/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [But I remember we sold nearly 18,000 records in one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/but-i-remember-we-sold-nearly-18-000-records-in-one-day/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [I make an embarrassing amount of money for a borderline Marxist, just by selling 100,000 records. I don't sell millions of records, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-earle/i-make-an-embarrassing-amount-of-money-for-a-borderline-marxist-just/) [Steve Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-earle/) > [I've got a core audience, so regardless of what I put out, I can sell 100,000 records on an independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-ve-got-a-core-audience-so-regardless-of-what-i-put-out-i-can-sell/) [Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/) > [I don't think most rock stars are particularly calculating. I don't think they sit there and think, 'I will do this; therefore, on Monday,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hepworth/i-don-t-think-most-rock-stars-are-particularly-calculating-i-don-t/) [David Hepworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hepworth/) ## More by Kurt Elling > [Man, I just feel so fortunate to be a jazz musician at all. I have a hard time thinking of it any other way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/man-i-just-feel-so-fortunate-to-be-a-jazz-musician-at-all-i-have-a/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [You can start from any source material, and you can approach it with a jazz ear, and then it will become a jazz moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-can-start-from-any-source-material-and-you-can-approach-it-with-a/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [I don't really have a more intellectualized approach. After the fact, I can sure talk about stuff a lot - but when I make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-don-t-really-have-a-more-intellectualized-approach-after-the-fact-i/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [I think my intention was there, and my love for the music was apparent. And there are very few singers who get up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-think-my-intention-was-there-and-my-love-for-the-music-was-apparent/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [I've worked with a number of big bands, but there's nothing in life like the Basie band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-ve-worked-with-a-number-of-big-bands-but-there-s-nothing-in-life/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [A lot of the commercial world wants to bank in on the cachet that jazz brings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/a-lot-of-the-commercial-world-wants-to-bank-in-on-the-cachet-that/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [The great jazz and jazz-influenced singers carry themselves with a certain panache and a certain elegance and, for lack of a better word, self-confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/the-great-jazz-and-jazz-influenced-singers-carry-themselves-with-a/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [You work very hard on the lyrics. Getting them to fit the contours of improvised melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-work-very-hard-on-the-lyrics-getting-them-to-fit-the-contours-of/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [There's a wide spectrum of possibilities in how to deliver a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/there-s-a-wide-spectrum-of-possibilities-in-how-to-deliver-a-song/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [A lot of people are put off by the idea of scat singing. Either that or it's something to be made fun of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/a-lot-of-people-are-put-off-by-the-idea-of-scat-singing-either-that/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [As improvisers, we're acting as composers in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/as-improvisers-we-re-acting-as-composers-in-front-of-people/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [You want to be doing your best work whatever field of the arts you're in because your life's going to be over all too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/you-want-to-be-doing-your-best-work-whatever-field-of-the-arts-you-re/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [Why limit yourself to one discipline or field of study?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/why-limit-yourself-to-one-discipline-or-field-of-study/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [Sometimes, with vocalese, I'm dealing with something, a great solo from the past, which is so iconic I can't presume to change it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/sometimes-with-vocalese-i-m-dealing-with-something-a-great-solo-from/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [I'm a guy who has more slapstick than Joe Cool moments in his day, so I'm not taking myself so seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/i-m-a-guy-who-has-more-slapstick-than-joe-cool-moments-in-his-day-so/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) [Explore all 96 Kurt Elling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) ## More Going quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I really enjoy going to play for the national team and be with the guys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedi-osman/i-really-enjoy-going-to-play-for-the-national-team-and-be-with-the/) [Cedi Osman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedi-osman/) > [“I’m not even going to ask you where you got that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mackey/i-m-not-even-going-to-ask-you-where-you-got-that/) Mark Mackey > [This is how McGregor is, waging mental warfare before the fights. There's no way that guy is going to get in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-mendes/this-is-how-mcgregor-is-waging-mental-warfare-before-the-fights-there/) [Chad Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-mendes/) > [For me, going to Minneapolis is like going to Mecca.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephan-pastis/for-me-going-to-minneapolis-is-like-going-to-mecca/) [Stephan Pastis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephan-pastis/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/) [Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/) > [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) > [I want to help people struggling with whatever it is they're going through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santan-dave/i-want-to-help-people-struggling-with-whatever-it-is-they-re-going/) [Santan Dave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santan-dave/) Browse all 15,485 Going quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I was going to sell out, I would do it for more than 10,000 records.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kurt Elling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it-for-more-than-10-000-records/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Going" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it-for-more-than-10-000-records/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/kurt-elling-6944_going_if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it_581808.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/kurt-elling-6944_going_if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it_581808.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/54f/kurt-elling-6944_going_if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it_581808.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I was going to sell out, I would do it for more than 10,000 records.” — Kurt Elling", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kurt Elling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I was going to sell...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it-for-more-than-10-000-records/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/if-i-was-going-to-sell-out-i-would-do-it-for-more-than-10-000-records/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```