Get Things Done: The Commodification of David Bowie in 1983

1983 was a pivotal point in the career of musician David Bowie. It was a time of personal and artistic renewal, which ultimately transformed him from an “eternal outsider” into a global superstar. The 40th anniversary of his landmark 1983 album Let’s Dance provides an opportunity to consider the business acumen behind the dramatic repositioning of Bow- ie’s brand, and to reevaluate accusations of ‘selling-out’ and ‘inauthenticity’ in his quest for mainstream international success.