You have to whore yourself to the masses if you want to make money in art or literature.

I think that has been the case since forever maybe. Most people use the verb to market because it sounds less awful, but it’s not like a medieval painter got a job without having made a name for themself. Same for dancers, actors, scriptwriters etc. It is much easier to sell people people food and beer and sweaters and baskets and whatnot. Marketing your work is as essential to running your business (= making a living) as managing finances. I can understand you don’t like this, but it’s not really been different.