It is common to see artists delay music for various reasons, but fans tend to get frustrated when it becomes more of a frequent occurrence. Artists such as PlayBoi Carti and Kanye West are both known for delaying prior releases. Fans become annoyed or even mad because of the anticipation for new music releases.
When artists release new work it is typically amped up by social media presence. When fans get excited about these new releases they tend to apply pressure on the artists for the release. The pressure is caused by the want to meet fan expectations. This could potentially be a reason why artists delay their work. They want the album to be perfect so they avoid backlash after the album drops.
One current example of this is PlayBoi Carti’s I AM MUSIC franchise. Although Carti’s delays are not a new occurrence, fans still find themselves frustrated when they are left without new music. Carti has continued to detain and tease his newest album through social media and interviews, which has left his fan base annoyed. Carti reached the fine line between maintaining a mysterious persona and simply frustrating his audience.
Another current example is Lana Del Rey’s new album. She originally said she was going to release “Lasso” September 2024 but delayed the album and changed the title to “The right person will stay; which will release in May 2025. Moving the release date is another example of what the music industry does in order to build suspense on new music.
As delays for music drag on, fans tend to lose their faith in the artist they have supported for so long. The anticipation for music that once felt like a thrilling wait now feels more like a futile effort. It makes the listener feel like every new album announcement or tease is no more than a hoax.
Even if music delays cause frustration throughout various fan bases, it is all a part of the experience. The anticipation for new content to drop and the excitement for when it finally does is the reason the music industry partakes in this. Rushing an album for the sake of pleasing the fans ruins the quality of music, and true fans will wait when it is authentic.
