Hyper-commercialism is nothing new, in music or anywhere else. (See, for instance, the band KISS' officially licensed Kiss Kasket). People who bemoan our era of "late capitalism" rarely realize that phrase is 100 years old. The only thing that's unprecedented about these craven cash-ins is how well they seem to be working. Selling out no longer carries a stigma—if anything, fans are excited for tie-ins between their favorite bands and their favorite brands, no matter how shameless. .The Chrom...

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