The Death of Music "Criticism"

Pop music has historically intertwined an artist's image and branding with their actual music, from Elvis and the Beatles to modern pop stars. Dismissing contemporary artists as lacking "real music" based on their visual presentation ignores the fact that aesthetic branding has always been a fundamental component of pop performance. Critics often selectively weaponize this argument against artists they personally dislike rather than engaging with the art fairly.

Online commentators frequently take pop art and album covers too literally without considering the broader context of the artist's brand and musical themes. For instance, Sabrina Carpenter's satirical album cover was misconstrued by critics as promoting domestic violence or undermining feminism, completely ignoring her established history of portraying men as flawed or disposable in her lyrics and music videos. This lack of media literacy leads to overblown moral outrage and unearned criticism based on superficial readings.

Artists from marginalized backgrounds, such as Chappell Roan, often face impossible expectations to act as political spokespersons for their communities. Whether they choose to speak out or remain silent, they inevitably encounter severe online backlash because critics project their own political desires onto public figures. This creates a no-win scenario where musicians are held responsible for systemic political issues far beyond their professional scope or control.

Female pop artists are frequently subjected to an unfairly high standard of constant reinvention and originality across every album cycle. While male musicians routinely release albums with consistent sounds without facing major accusations of stagnation, female artists are quickly criticized for repeating their musical styles. This disparity highlights a persistent double standard in how music critics and online commentators evaluate male versus female discographies.

The internet frequently exhibits massive, disproportionate outrage toward female celebrities over relatively minor controversies while giving a pass to individuals who have committed severe crimes or abuse. For example, Taylor Swift has faced intense scrutiny and headline news regarding her private jet usage, whereas male artists and public figures with documented histories of domestic violence or illegal abuse maintain successful careers with minimal backlash. This imbalance demonstrates that public outrage is often misdirected toward high-profile women rather than actual wrongdoers.