Billie Eilish in Los Angeles in January 2022.Photo:Emma McIntyre/Getty
Emma McIntyre/Getty
After the pop star, 22, went viral for speaking out inaBillboardinterviewabout how “wasteful” it is for stars to sell various pressings and packagings of their records, she posted to Instagram on Sunday to explain that she “wasn’t singling anyone out.”
In a post on herInstagram Story, the Grammy winner requested that fans read the full article — which featured her and her mother,Maggie Baird, opening up about their sustainability initiatives — and reiterated that she was talking about “industry-wide systemic issues,” as opposed to specific artists, as some fans speculated on social media.
Billie Eilish’s statement about vinyl variants on her Instagram Story.Billie Eilish/Instagram
Billie Eilish/Instagram
In a candid statement shared alongside a link to theBillboardconversation, Eilish wrote, “okay so it would be so awesome if people would stop putting words into my mouth and actually read what i said in that billboard article.”
“i wasn’t singling anyone out, these are industry-wide systemic issues,” the “What Was I Made For?” singer said.
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The hitmaker also admitted to selling variants of her own albums in the past and explained why she thinks it’s important to move away from the practice. “& when it comes to variants, so many artists release them - including ME ! which i clearly state in the article,” she continued. “the climate crisis is now and its about all of us being part of the problem and trying to do better.”
“sheesh,” Eilish concluded.
FINNEAS, Billie Eilish and their mother Maggie Baird at the Academy Awards in March 2022 in Los Angeles.Gilbert Flores/Variety/Penske Media via Getty
Gilbert Flores/Variety/Penske Media via Getty
“We live in this day and age where, for some reason, it’s very important to some artists to make all sorts of different vinyl and packaging,” the singer-songwriter said, “which ups the sales and ups the numbers and gets them more money.”
Eilish continued, “I can’t even express to you how wasteful it is. It is right in front of our faces and people are just getting away with it left and right. I find it really frustrating as somebody who really goes out of my way to be sustainable and do the best that I can and try to involve everybody in my team in being sustainable — and then it’s some of the biggest artists in the world making f—ing 40 different vinyl packages that have a different unique thing just to get you to keep buying more.”
“It’s so wasteful, and it’s irritating to me that we’re still at a point where you care that much about your numbers and you care that much about making money — and it’s all your favorite artists doing that s—,” added the Oscar winner.
Baird, 65, meanwhile, noted that the issue is “systemic” and suggested more “rules” be in place in terms of the chart data so that artists vying for a No. 1 album don’t abuse the practice.
Billie Eilish at the Grammy Awards in February 2024 in Los Angeles.Lester Cohen/Getty Images
Lester Cohen/Getty Images
Eilish has long used her platform to advocate for sustainability.
Aside from her eco-conscious efforts, the musician seems to begearing up to release her third studio album. Coming off the success of her contribution to theBarbiemovie soundtrack, “What Was I Made For?,” whichswept awards season, Eilish revealed in late February that her next release is “mastered” in a poston Instagram.
source: people.com
