Lizzo ‘stressing out’ over streaming algorithms

September 8, 2025 – Radio 854 Music News:

Pop powerhouse Lizzo is getting candid about a modern music business nightmare: feeling invisible on streaming platforms.

In a candid TikTok post, the singer behind “Truth Hurts” and her new mixtape My Face Hurts From Smiling (including a deluxe version featuring SZA and Doja Cat) voiced concern over how algorithms are impacting artists—even superstars. She admitted she’s “stressing the f*** out” because many fans still don’t even realise she’s dropped new music.

The Music Industry Is in Complete Shambles”

Lizzo didn’t mince words. She painted a scene where algorithms have replaced the once-curated pathways of radio and retail. In the past, music followed established routes—now, “there is no control over the algorithm,” she lamented.

She explained:

• Unlike the past, where songs were actively pushed to radio and traditional channels, today’s algorithm-driven system lacks that curated touch.

• Despite releasing the deluxe edition of her mixtape, she knows some fans “don’t even know” it’s out.

• She points out the irony that all the biggest artists—Lady Gaga, Drake, Beyoncé (except her)—have released music this year, yet there’s no standout “song of the summer.” Lizzo believes that’s not due to poor music, but because “the way that the algorithm is set up, no one can serve the masses anymore”.

A Double-Edged Sword for Artists

While Lizzo criticises the system, she also acknowledges the upside for newcomers. TikTok’s For You page, she said, “is great news for new artists.” It democratizes exposure–allowing rising stars to connect “at a way quicker rate” than ever before.

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