Billie Eilish has addressed the recent controversy surrounding her comments about artists releasing multiple versions of the same album, particularly in response to assumptions that she was targeting Taylor Swift.
In a statement shared on her Instagram Stories, the Happier Than Ever singer clarified that her remarks were not aimed at singling out any specific artist. She emphasized that the issue she raised is a widespread industry practice aimed at boosting sales figures.
“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,” she wrote, acknowledging that she also releases album variants.
Billie further explained that while she finds the practice wasteful and frustrating, many artists, including herself, resort to releasing multiple versions to potentially secure a No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts.
During her interview with Billboard alongside her mother Maggie Baird, Billie expressed her concerns about the environmental impact of creating numerous album variants. She criticized the focus on numbers and profit margins, highlighting the wasteful nature of producing numerous vinyl packages with unique features solely to drive more sales.
“It’s some of the biggest artists in the world making fking 40 different vinyl packages that have a different unique thing just to get you to keep buying more,” Billie lamented. “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 favourite artists doing that st.”
While some readers interpreted her remarks as a critique of Taylor Swift, who often releases multiple versions of her albums with different artwork and bonus tracks, Billie clarified that her comments were not directed at any particular artist but rather at the broader industry practices.
