For some artists, embracing commercialism is more authentic than pretending not to care about money.
Being a successful businesswoman is part of Taylor Swift's artistic identity, where it wasn't for Loretta Lynn. Selling sneakers is part of Kanye West's artistic identity, where it wasn't for Tupac. It doesn't make any of them less authentic.
Meanwhile, I can't imagine any band in the punk or metal genres making it very far if they leaned into commercialism. That would not be authentic at all.
