Halsey says she is being blocked from releasing new music by her producer

Singer Halsey vented her frustrations at her record label in a TikTok on Sunday morning (22/05), claiming that she is being blocked from releasing a “music that I love” for marketing reasons. “Basically, I have a song I love that I want to release as soon as possible, but my label won't let me”, says the text that begins the 29-second clip.

With the unreleased track apparently playing in the background and a frown on her face, Halsey (who uses she/they pronouns) continued: “I’ve been in this industry for eight years and I’ve sold over 165 million records and my production company is saying I can’t release (the music) unless they can fake a viral moment on TikTok.”

Representatives for Halsey and her record label, Astralwerks/Capitol, did not immediately respond to Halsey's requests for comment. Variety on Sunday. The irony of Halsey creating a viral TikTok moment by claiming that her label won't release the song without a viral TikTok moment is not lost on observers.

_{Halsey. (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram)}

As more artists have started to see success with the TikTok algorithm, it's no secret that record labels and artist teams have started manufacturing “viral moments” on the platform to build buzz around a release or project. In April, Kid Laroi and his former manager Scooter Braun reaped the power of TikTok's virality by starting a fake feud in promotion of Laroi's song “Thousand Miles.”

“Everything is marketing,” Halsey's Tiktok concluded, “and they're doing it to every artist these days. I just want to release music, man and I deserve better. I am tired.”

Halsey has been signed to Astralwerks since 2014, and this isn't the first time she's claimed they didn't see eye to eye. Last August, Halsey took aim at record labels and the media in an interview about her latest album “If I Ca n't Have Love, I Want Power.” The singer-songwriter, who recently welcomed her first child, sarcastically commented on what was apparently her record company's reaction to the pregnancy.

“VYou have to call the CEO of X, Y, Z and say, 'Hey, hi. I'm calling to let you know I'm pregnant. I didn't want you to find out on Instagram. I wanted to tell you in person. Everything is still normal here, don't worry',” Halsey told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “My personal choice will not affect your profitability, your productivity or your assembly line. And also, in what world would you have to call me to tell me you were having a baby? But I have to call you because it affects your product'”, ends saying Halsey.

Featured Photo: Halsey. Reproduction/Instagram.