Lizzo’s new album “Bitch” doesn’t make it into the Billboard 200 or the UK Top 100. Is the algorithm or her hate to blame?
Lizzo’s new album “Bitch” was released on June 5th and has not yet continued the success of her previous LP “Special”. The record neither made it into the UK Top 100 nor the Billboard 200 in the USA. A few years ago, Lizzo was still considered a major pop phenomenon: with “Special” she reached number two in the US album charts in 2022 and number six in Great Britain.
Lizzo’s new album “Bitch” misses the charts
After a large-scale arena tour including two sold-out O2 shows in London, everyone is now waiting in vain for another success. “Bitch” receives mediocre reviews and languishes under the hit radar. The Telegraph wrote that the new record was “desperate for a hit,” while Rolling Stone noted how many cynical comments she made about the streaming algorithm in her lyrics.
Lizzo’s own explanation: Industry and algorithm
Where is the enthusiasm? What knocked Lizzo off the pedestal of pop darling? The singer has her own theories. A fan posted on platform Lizzo responded to the question and provided answers: “The industry has changed so much in the last three years. Streaming has replaced radio and I was a radio darling. That’s how my fans discovered my music. And then there was the very obvious and public attack on my career that changed things.”
Legal proceedings and the shadow of the allegations
By this attack she probably means the court case against her, which sparked a wave of internet hate: in 2023, three former background dancers accused Lizzo of a toxic work environment, sexual harassment and fat-shaming. The singer, known for her advocacy for body inclusivity, denies these allegations. Some of the charges have already been dropped, while others remain.
Were the viral allegations a reason for Lizzo’s decline? Or is it, as she herself admits, the rapidly changing music industry? In a detailed TikTok, Lizzo talks about how unchronologically the algorithm on social media now works. This makes it difficult to make people aware of their new music. But she also emphasizes: “I have a loyal fan base.”
Is the problem that the rest of the world doesn’t hear about their music – or are people simply no longer interested?