A few key storylines shaped the year in music. Of course, there was Beyoncé’s incredible Renaissance tour, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, and high-profile new albums from big names like SZA and Olivia Rodrigo.
Regretfully, our feeds were frequently overshadowed by the countless scandals that rocked the music industry this year. Oliver Anthony, a folk musician and political lightning rod, rose to prominence overnight.
There have also been lawsuits involving Lizzo, Hall & Oates, Diddy, and other musicians, as well as an unsettling trend of objects being thrown at musicians while they perform.
These are the most significant music industry scandals of 2023.
1. The Matty Healy and Ice Spice controversy spills over into the Taylor Swift universe
The frontman of the 1975, Matty Healy, made an appearance on a podcast episode in February, wherein co-hosts Adam Friedland and Nick Mullen discussed the ethnicity and physique of rapper Ice Spice, better known for her song “Boy’s a Liar.”
Healy laughed in the background as the hosts impersonated Hawaiian, Inuit, and Chinese accents, calling her a “chubby Chinese lady” and an “Inuit Spice Girl.”
Healy started dating Taylor Swift shortly after, which increased the media attention to his remarks and infuriated Swifties. Fans pleaded with Swift to break up with the singer on social media, seeing their union as a betrayal of the celebrity’s reputation and purported morals.
Swift followed the uproar by releasing a remix of her Midnights song “Karma,” which included none other than Ice Spice. Some speculated that she brought Spice on the track as a diversion from Healy’s remarks.
When Healy saw Ice Spice perform live in April, he said, “I am kind of sorry if I offended you, and I just feel a bit bad.” Ice Spice later disclosed that everything was “good” between them after the two had discussed the matter face-to-face.
2. Oliver Anthony’s ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ divides the nation
Oliver Anthony was a one-time sensation who generated a lot of discussion. His popular folk ballad “Rich Men North of Richmond” was meant to be a critique of the nation’s decline and avaricious politicians, but millions on both sides of the political spectrum used it for their purposes.
It was used at a Republican debate, leading to a response from Anthony, who said, “I wrote that song about those people.
The song “Rich Men North of Richmond” shot to the top of the American charts after being featured in conservative news outlets.
When he stated that diversity in our nation “makes us strong,” he infuriated conservatives. As word got out that Anthony was stuck at Burning Man, he kept making headlines. However, it appears that after roughly four months, the Oliver Anthony Bonanza has subsided.
3. Musicians weigh in on the Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney backlash
This year, when Bud Light revealed its collaboration with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, it faced criticism. The country music industry took the brunt of the criticism.
For instance, Kid Rock declared he would no longer serve the beer giant in his Nashville bar and was boycotting it. (He also recorded himself using an automatic rifle to shoot Bud Light cases.)
In the end, Rock said he “let the thing go,” even though he “did not want to be in the party of canceling cultures and boycotts that ultimately hurt working-class people.”
In the meantime, Garth Brooks reaffirmed his decision to keep serving Bud Light at his bar, declaring, “I stand for diversity and inclusivity.” I have always been like that.”
4. Daryl Hall sues John Oates
Half of the hit-making pop duo Hall & Oates, Daryl Hall, is suing his former bandmate John Oates, claiming that Oates intended to sell his share of the duo’s joint publishing venture in violation of their confidential business agreement. Hall claims that Oates has been his longtime musical partner, but only on a “business” level.
After hearing the case on November 30, the Nashville judge ruled in Hall’s favor, stating that Oates could not sell his share until a private arbitrator heard the case.
5. Lizzo’s former backup dancers accuse her of harassment and weight-shaming
In a lawsuit filed earlier this year, Lizzo’s former backup dancers accused the pop star of weight-shaming, harassment, and assault.
The plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging assault, false imprisonment, harassment based on a disability, racial and religious discrimination, a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and deliberate interference with potential economic advantage.
“Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations, but these are unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to be addressed,” Lizzo wrote on social media in response to the accusations, denying them and announcing her intention to file a countersue.
6. Britney Spears calls out Justin Timberlake, Jamie Lynn and more in bombshell memoir
This year saw the publication of Britney Spears’ candid memoir, The Woman in Me, which included information about her past relationships, tabloid stories, tumultuous career path, conservatorship battle, and more.
One particularly interesting story describes an abortion the couple had while dating Justin Timberlake, which they years later concealed.
Her husband, Kevin Federline, concealed the identity of his child from a previous relationship with her until after they were married. “You know he has a baby, right?” someone told her after they had been dating for a while, but I had no idea before then, the author writes.
Spears also talked candidly about her relationship with her sister, Jamie Lynn. Spears claims that Jamie Lynn took advantage of her bad luck by landing a book deal and that he refused to assist her when she felt helpless under the conservatorship. Later, Spears filed several scathing lawsuits against Jamie, her father.
7. Fans hurl objects at artists, kicking off a disturbing trend
Pop music has seen a concerning trend of fans hurling objects at performers during shows this year. The first of the attacks happened when a fan threw a phone at Bebe Rexha during a show in New York. The fan was arrested and suffered a minor facial injury.
After a while, this had a knock-on effect, with Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Drake, Pink, Lil Nas X, and other celebrities among the victims. Bracelets, ashes, and even sex toys were among the objects hurled.
The trend was so prevalent that artists like Adele and Jason Derulo paused their shows to comment on it and urge the audience against it.
8. Flamy Grant booted from Christian and gospel Grammy categories
Due to its “explicit language and content” that did not reflect “a Christian worldview,” the music of gospel and drag performer Flamy Grant was disqualified from consideration for the Christian and Gospel Grammy Awards.
Grant protested, calling the Grammys out for including Kanye West in the gospel categories and saying, “There were no instructions about explicit material for that category,” branding the decision as “religious gatekeeping.”
The singer-songwriter’s album Bible Belt Baby, which soared to the top of the iTunes charts earlier this year, was initially entered for consideration in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album category before being moved into the Best Pop Vocal Album category.
9. AI-generated music has artists and fans uneasy
More artists are experimenting with AI and protesting against it as the technology advances. The remaining Beatles finished their last song this year with artificial intelligence, and they took a lot of flak for it.
When Paul McCartney explained in a tweet how they used AI, he cleared the air: “There has been some misunderstanding and conjecture regarding it.
There appears to be a lot of conjecture out there. It is difficult to say too much at this point, but let me be clear: nothing has been made synthetically. We all play on it because it is all real.
10. Diddy accused of rape and sexual assault
Over the past few months, Sean “Diddy” Combs, a rapper, producer, and businessman, has been the target of four lawsuits alleging sexual assault.
The most recent accusation came from a woman going by the name Jane Doe, who claimed to have been sexually assaulted and trafficked by Combs, former president of Bad Boy Harve Pierre, and a third man in a recording studio in 2003, when the accuser was 17 and in the eleventh grade.
Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed the first lawsuit of the year, accusing him of sexual assault, abuse, and rape during their ten-year romance. After they settled, Combs’ lawyer argued that it did not constitute an admission of guilt.
A few days later, Combs faced two more lawsuits alleging sexual assault. The third lawsuit was filed right before New York State’s Adult Survivors Act was about to expire.
In December, a second lawsuit surfaced, charging the musician with gang rape. He told The Messenger in a statement, “Let me be clear.” “I have not done any of the horrible things that are being said.”
ncG1vNJzZmiolZq9tMPIs2Wcp51ktbC4y7KuqKeUZMGpsYytpqllYmV%2FdHnCqKWtqp%2BrsrO%2FyJ6qZqGeYsGpsYymrKyhk2LEsL7LnWY%3D