American singer Lizzo said the music industry’s shift from radio to streaming platforms contributed to a decline in her fanbase over the past few years. The Grammy-winning artist addressed the issue while responding to a fan on X who noted that her following had reduced.
She stated that the industry’s move toward streaming has affected artists who relied on traditional radio exposure, explaining: “The industry changed so much in the last 3 yrs. Streaming replaced radio & I was a radio darling. That’s how my fans discovered my music.”
“Not to mention the very obvious & public attack on my career changed things. But I’m out here doing my absolute best,” she wrote when addressing the fan. Lizzo also alluded to a lawsuit she faced in August 2023, where three former backup dancers accused her of various forms of harassment, assault, and other misconduct.
“Additionally, the very public and evident attack on my career shifted things. But I’m here doing my utmost, and you can’t fault me for that,” the 38-year-old continued. Some allegations, including claims of fat-shaming against one dancer were dismissed by a Los Angeles judge in 2024, although certain accusations remain valid.
Lizzo says the shift from radio to streaming changed how fans discover music, affecting her career commercial momentum. Responding directly to a viral discussion on X, the Grammy-winning rapper offered an explanation for why her commercial momentum looks different today than it did just a few years ago.
“I’m trying to teach my 280k fans on my PRIVATE page who tell me DAILY they can’t see my posts,” she wrote on X. “The algorithm is controlling the narrative of so many artists.” According to Lizzo, algorithm-driven feeds have made it harder than ever to ensure fans are aware when new music arrives, even when they actively follow an artist’s accounts.
In 2023, shortly after her appearance on the Barbie soundtrack, three of her former backup dancers initiated legal action against her, her production company, and her dance captain. The claims include allegations of being pressured to touch dancers during a live nude performance in Amsterdam; racial, size and religious-based harassment; and one dancer being forced into an hours-long rehearsal until she soiled herself from exhaustion.
Lizzo has consistently asserted her innocence, labeling the accusations as “absurd” and seeking the dismissal of her backup dancers’ lawsuit. For both long-time and new fans, the lawsuit has shaken the very foundation of Lizzo’s brand. Coupled with her widely discussed weight loss in recent years, the once-radical and empowering image of Lizzo began to feel disingenuous.
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