Halsey says record label won't release new song unless they "fake a viral moment on TikTok"

Over the past week some viral tweets highlighted that several artists, including FKA twigs, Charli XCX and Florence + The Machine, are being pushed by record labels to focus on making TikTok videos to promote their releases, and it seems Halsey is in a similar situation.

Yesterday (22 May), Halsey posted to TikTok about some hurdles she's experiencing with trying to put out a new song, writing, "Basically, I have a song that I love that I want to release ASAP, but my record label won’t let me."

Halsey's TikTok continued, "I’ve been in this industry for eight years and I’ve sold over 165 million records and my record company is saying I can’t release it unless they can fake a viral moment on TikTok."

"Everything is marketing," Halsey added. "And they are doing this to basically every artist these days. I just wanna release music, man. And I deserve better tbh. I'm tired."

@halsey

I’m tired

original sound - Halsey

On Twitter Halsey shared an update following the TikTok, writing, "Talked to my label tonight after my tiktok tantrum. They said “wow the tiktok is going really strong!” I was like ok cool so can I release my song now? They said “we’ll see!” tell me again how I’m making this up."

Talked to my label tonight after my tiktok tantrum. They said “wow the tiktok is going really strong!” I was like ok cool so can I release my song now? They said “we’ll see!” tell me again how I’m making this up.

— h (@halsey) May 23, 2022

Halsey also responded to people claiming she's bringing this up on TikTok as a marketing tactic, writing, "I’ve been minding my own business on tour taking care of my baby. Four albums deep. Coasting. I’m way too established to stir something like this up for no reason or resort to this as a marketing tactic but now I’m in too deep so there’s no going back."

I’ve been minding my own business on tour taking care of my baby. Four albums deep. Coasting. I’m way too established to stir something like this up for no reason or resort to this as a marketing tactic but now I’m in too deep so there’s no going back

— h (@halsey) May 23, 2022

They also added that the "music video is literally already done".

the music video is literally already done lmao like.

— h (@halsey) May 23, 2022