Artists have always made the deals they have had to.

Look at all the people on this thread who have said The Big Country was magnificent. perhaps Burl wouldn't have got the chance to make that if he hadn't gone along with the HUAC.

Do you think Michelangelo wanted to do business with homophobic bastards like the Catholic church? He wanted to be an artist - he did what he had to.

It wasn't just Robert Johnson that sold his soul at the crossroads. that's the meaning of the metaphor - every artist does.

Only very minor talents keep themselves 'pure'.