How do some bands enjoy a long career?

[Bellringer]

I've been thinking about different artists and what they do to sustain a long, successful career.
You have people like Bowie and Madonna who broke ground doing things deemed a bit outrageous at the time. Then have sustained by reworking trends for years.
You have bands like Radiohead and U2 who have built upon a unique sound and have tried to challenge people with most records.
Then, there are bands like AC/DC, Fugazi and The Ramones who have existed on their cult following and signature sound for long careers. Enjoying the freedom to write in their own style without changing for trends.
So what am I missing? This was off the top of my head. What other artists can you think of that either fit into one of these catagories or has another approach that has allowed them to retain popularity at some level. I know there are great examples of people who's careers are moving along due to the payola of big labels and MTV. Also using tabloids, stylists, and other gimmicks.
So who and how? What options do you see for us as musicians?

[DreamwaveMusic]

Certain bands also retained their careers through great live show experiences such as phish, floyd even. The dead has certainly maintened a huge live following throught there many variations

[mikegee]

no such thing as bad publicity! maintaining their floundering careers with; weirdness (michael jackson), tv reality shows (ozzy), posing for playboy (tiffany)...

any others i fergot?

[mikegee]

Originally Posted by Bellringer

I've been thinking about different artists and what they do to sustain a long, successful career.
You have people like Bowie and Madonna who broke ground doing things deemed a bit outrageous at the time. Then have sustained by reworking trends for years.
You have bands like Radiohead and U2 who have built upon a unique sound and have tried to challenge people with most records.
Then, there are bands like AC/DC, Fugazi and The Ramones who have existed on their cult following and signature sound for long careers. Enjoying the freedom to write in their own style without changing for trends.
So what am I missing? This was off the top of my head. What other artists can you think of that either fit into one of these catagories or has another approach that has allowed them to retain popularity at some level. I know there are great examples of people who's careers are moving along due to the payola of big labels and MTV. Also using tabloids, stylists, and other gimmicks.
So who and how? What options do you see for us as musicians?

i read in a book recently; to make it big in show business nowadays, one doesnt necessarly have to have great talent, but audacity. you need to stand out from the crowd. uniqueness, individuality, and audacious presentation... something to think about.

[Bellringer]

Originally Posted by mikegee

i read in a book recently; to make it big in show business nowadays, one doesnt necessarly have to have great talent, but audacity. you need to stand out from the crowd. uniqueness, individuality, and audacious presentation... something to think about.

It's too bad that from a marketing perspective, talent and songwriting take a backseat to the fashion show. You can always use hit songwriters to make a freakshow sound good. Imagine if MTV didn't change the way we perceive music today. Now it's about the visual instead of the band or song. There were some ugly looking bands in the 70's that would have never been allowed a video these days!
I guess if you can sing and write these days, you still need a gimmick for the big labels to notice you.
Who needs 'em anyway!!

[dagosto]

You can always try your hand at being one of those talented songwriters for stars. Lotsa cash, people don't hassle you on the street.

[Bellringer]

Originally Posted by dagosto

You can always try your hand at being one of those talented songwriters for stars. Lotsa cash, people don't hassle you on the street.

This is true. If you can just get over hearing some bastardized version of your art! Then again you can save the more personal songs and just write predictable top 40 poo. If it works out, you can do your own thing as well.