Halsey Reveals She’s Blocked from Making New Music by Record Label
In a candid new interview with Zane Lowe, singer Halsey revealed that her record label, Sony Music’s Columbia Records, is currently preventing her from working on new music following the commercial performance of her latest album.
“I can’t make an album right now—I’m not allowed to,” Halsey said. “That’s the reality, because The Great Impersonator didn’t perform the way they thought it was going to.”
Halsey’s fifth studio album, and her first with Columbia Records, The Great Impersonator, delved into deeply personal themes, including her struggles with health after being diagnosed with lupus and a T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. The album received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 93,000 units in its first week.
Despite these achievements, Halsey expressed frustration over the label’s expectations. “If I’m being honest, the album sold 100,000 f–king copies in the first week. That’s a pretty big first week, especially for an artist who hasn’t had a hit in a long time. The tour is the highest-selling tour of my entire career, but they want Manic numbers from me… I can’t do that every single time.”
Reflecting on her current position in the music industry, she admitted, “That’s the hardest part of having been a pop star once. Because I’m not one anymore, but I’m being compared to numbers and to other people that I don’t consider lateral to me.”
Halsey’s remarks highlight the tension between creative ambition and commercial expectations, underscoring the pressures artists often face in the modern music industry.
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