I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how literally everything boils down to money. It has such a nauseating grasp on every corner of our lives that it feels inescapable and suffocating. I feel like art that used to be thought provoking and refreshing is emulating a similar feeling of uncanny valley (which I know you have discussed previously in your writing). Every time you come across a band, a creator, etc. and you think you’ve found someone or something authentic, you start to realize that this is not real passion, style, or creativity. It’s just a facade - a product for your purchase draped in the illusion of authenticity because it’s what everyone craves. Lovely piece as always! As a woman in my early 20s the wisdom you share in your writing feels grounding. Thank you 🫶🏻
Thank you!! This is so true, I saw an interview with Sombr and he said that he tests all the hooks of his songs on tik tok, and whatever blows up he will then make into a full song, which made me feel a sense of dismay. That feels like making a product based on other people’s opinions rather than making art. I think a lot of musicians probably do this and maybe why I find it increasingly hard to connect with a lot of music. It just feels like we’re losing the actual purpose and depth of art and creativity 🫠
Enjoyed reading this, very thought-provoking. The answer is always capitalism unfortunately. Lots of people can’t just rely on art alone because they’re not making that much money from it. Then also it’s tough to even be a celebrity if you’re from certain backgrounds- like class is a big problem in the arts- and just one of them. So we are getting a shallow pool of people getting to the top of the arts- and it’s only getting more shallow. If we want more authenticity we need to demand these industries change.
Thank you! I agree, it’s a systemic problem that is inevitable in a capitalist world. It’s sad, when the arts are disregarded and seen as free content we don’t get the most interesting or thought provoking work. It feels like we’re at the point where we just get a bunch of former child stars or nepo babies doing brand deals and starring in blockbusters
The shift from artistry to brand partnerships feels like a natural evolution once streaming killed the album economics. When musicians can't rely on record sales and actors see theatrical releases shrink, monetizing reach through endorsements becomes almost inevitable. I worked with a creative agency that pitched celebrity skincare collabs, and the numbers genuinely made more sense than waiting for backend points on indie film projects. What's interesting is that the backlash to this is creating a kind of authenticity arms race where even the "stripped back" aesthetic becomes its own marketing angle. Mk.gee's vibe reads as authentic partly becuase it's differentiated from the overproduced stuff, but there's still strategic positioning happening there.
Yeah I think this was inevitable when streaming took over. In particular, the music industry has been completely gutted, albums stopped making money and now touring has too, there’s nothing left.
I think we’ll see so many pop stars trying to emulate a more stripped back look, even ones that have done all the brand deals and worn all the costumes. It will be interesting to see the reaction to it, maybe it will make them seem even more like sell outs chasing a trend. It’s interesting with mk.gee, I’ve noticed a lot of celebrities like Justin Bieber trying to associate with him and work with him already
All Pluto in Aquarius triggering Leo (celebrity—the opposite sign) debacles.
Great read!
Thank you!!♥️
I'm so beyond done with this, totally agree. The moment we starting shifting to "consuming content" marked a... Well, spiral, if you will.
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how literally everything boils down to money. It has such a nauseating grasp on every corner of our lives that it feels inescapable and suffocating. I feel like art that used to be thought provoking and refreshing is emulating a similar feeling of uncanny valley (which I know you have discussed previously in your writing). Every time you come across a band, a creator, etc. and you think you’ve found someone or something authentic, you start to realize that this is not real passion, style, or creativity. It’s just a facade - a product for your purchase draped in the illusion of authenticity because it’s what everyone craves. Lovely piece as always! As a woman in my early 20s the wisdom you share in your writing feels grounding. Thank you 🫶🏻
Thank you!! This is so true, I saw an interview with Sombr and he said that he tests all the hooks of his songs on tik tok, and whatever blows up he will then make into a full song, which made me feel a sense of dismay. That feels like making a product based on other people’s opinions rather than making art. I think a lot of musicians probably do this and maybe why I find it increasingly hard to connect with a lot of music. It just feels like we’re losing the actual purpose and depth of art and creativity 🫠
Enjoyed reading this, very thought-provoking. The answer is always capitalism unfortunately. Lots of people can’t just rely on art alone because they’re not making that much money from it. Then also it’s tough to even be a celebrity if you’re from certain backgrounds- like class is a big problem in the arts- and just one of them. So we are getting a shallow pool of people getting to the top of the arts- and it’s only getting more shallow. If we want more authenticity we need to demand these industries change.
Thank you for writing ✨
Thank you! I agree, it’s a systemic problem that is inevitable in a capitalist world. It’s sad, when the arts are disregarded and seen as free content we don’t get the most interesting or thought provoking work. It feels like we’re at the point where we just get a bunch of former child stars or nepo babies doing brand deals and starring in blockbusters
The shift from artistry to brand partnerships feels like a natural evolution once streaming killed the album economics. When musicians can't rely on record sales and actors see theatrical releases shrink, monetizing reach through endorsements becomes almost inevitable. I worked with a creative agency that pitched celebrity skincare collabs, and the numbers genuinely made more sense than waiting for backend points on indie film projects. What's interesting is that the backlash to this is creating a kind of authenticity arms race where even the "stripped back" aesthetic becomes its own marketing angle. Mk.gee's vibe reads as authentic partly becuase it's differentiated from the overproduced stuff, but there's still strategic positioning happening there.
Yeah I think this was inevitable when streaming took over. In particular, the music industry has been completely gutted, albums stopped making money and now touring has too, there’s nothing left.
I think we’ll see so many pop stars trying to emulate a more stripped back look, even ones that have done all the brand deals and worn all the costumes. It will be interesting to see the reaction to it, maybe it will make them seem even more like sell outs chasing a trend. It’s interesting with mk.gee, I’ve noticed a lot of celebrities like Justin Bieber trying to associate with him and work with him already