We are commercialising music. Art used to be about self-expression, telling a story, making people feel something. Now, social media users treat musicians like fast fashion companies, hounding them for the next single, album, merch line and world tour. It’s no longer about listening to music for the purpose of engaging with art, but buying into a product.
Chappell Roan, an artist who quickly reached stardom in 2024 following her hit single ‘Good Luck Babe,’ recently came out with a statement saying that her next album could take at least 5 years to create, and many of her fans aren’t happy.
“It took me five years to write the first one, and it’s probably going to take at least five to write the next. I’m not that type of writer that can pump it out. I don’t think I make good music whenever I force myself to do anything.”
— Chappell Roan, Vogue
Every article, TikTok or Tweet that I’ve seen about the potential 5 year wait for Roan’s sophomore album is flooded with disappointment and nasty comments about the future of the singer’s career, with many users claiming that the artist will lose her fame and be forgotten if she takes too long.
Comments from TikTok posted by Elite Daily about Roan’s Vogue statement
Are we forgetting that our cult favourites like Lorde and Adele have taken up to 6 years to release some of their best work? Not every artist has the King Gizzard ability to drop 5 albums in one year.
Adele’s album’s 25 & 30, released 6 years apart. Images: Wikipedia
Since when is it up to us as consumers to dictate how an artist should produce their art? Has TikTok rotted our brains so badly that we need a new ‘Song of the Year’ every other week? What happened to sitting with a song or album and appreciating it for the artistry rather than a 10 second hook that we can film our GRWM videos to?
Someone should tell the Chappell haters that there is in fact other music they can listen to while they wait for her next album, and that maybe they should expand their music taste past whatever is on their TikTok FYP.
Can we just let artists do what they need to do and appreciate the results when we get them?
P.S. Just because that clip you heard on Instagram reels was catchy doesn’t make the song good. Maybe try listening to the whole thing first, if your attention span can handle it.
Kathrynf 
Alexander Hanjin De Filippo 
Eabha Quinn
I agree!! Para-social relationships are ruining society, and now all of a sudden everyone has these expectations over celebrities like they are our friends attending our birthday. THEY DON’T OWE US ANYTHING. And you already know that these people would also complain if Chappell rushed her next album and they thought it was bad or rushed.
So true! I don’t think fans really understand the time and energy that goes into creating such relatable and successful albums. And yes, TikTok has ultimately changed the way we consume music, but I think it has also created an opportunity to advertise their music to gain success, and as consumers, to access more artists and music genres than before.