Artists, particularly female artists, are increasingly exposing the toxicity of the music industry through their lyrics. This trend has been present since the 1970s, when acts like The Clash wrote about record label betrayal and the commercialization of musicians at the expense of their illusions. In the 2000s, R&B singer Brandy’s track “Should I Go” reflected on the unpredictability of the recording industry. Lady Gaga’s 2008 debut album, The Fame, featured “Paper Gangsta,” a kiss-off to Def Jam Recordings, who dropped her before she became a household name.
In the 2010s, Kacey Musgraves sang about the male-dominated music scene and Bon Jovi burning bridges with Mercury Records after a 32-year alliance. Rita Ora used her 2018 ballad “Soul Survivor” to reflect on her legal battle with Roc Nation. Tinashe’s “Die a Little Bit” hints at the time she lost at the hands of RCA Records. English girl group Little Mix alluded to their split with Simon Cowell and his label Syco Music via the bubblegum pop single “Not a Pop Song.” In 2023, Megan Thee Stallion released the independent track “Cobra,” which references the industry’s tendency to prioritize success over mental health.
Little Mix’s JADE went solo in 2024 and made a splash with a love letter to the music industry titled “Angel Of My Dreams.” She spells out the sacrifices behind her success: “Care if I cry, care if I die
You only care about money (Money)
Sellin’ my soul to a psycho
They say I’m so lucky
Better act like you’re lucky, honey.”
The trend has continued into 2025 with confessional releases, such as Cher Lloyd’s “Head Down,” JADE’s diss track “IT girl,” Marina’s “BUTTERFLY,” ADÉLA’s “MACHINE GIRL,” and Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s “Younger And Hotter Than Me.”
For female artists, it is crucial to reinvent themselves more than men to stay relevant. Taylor Swift’s 2024 ballad “Clara Bow” follows her songs “The Man” and “The Lucky One” in showcasing the trials and tribulations that female artists endure. By turning these experiences into songs, artists expose the flaws in the industry and provide a warning to those who aspire to become the next big thing in music.
Artists who find a way to persevere in the music industry will always love the love of music, as JADE said on Genius’s Verified. As artists continue to fight for financial justice, gender equality, and creative freedom, they are waking up to the challenges they face in the music industry.
