When Yungblud addressed criticism of being an “industry plant” earlier this week in a heartfelt Instagram post, artists from SZA to Anthrax’s Scott Ian rallied to support him. “The amount of hate and disbelief around me from strangers on the Internet or bitter musicians really weighs on my heart,” Yungblud wrote, “as all I’ve been trying to do for the past 10 years is spread love, build something I believe in and unify people in a safe space.”
However, the “industry plant” label is not exclusive to pop or rock artists. Country music figures such as mainstream stars like Ella Langley and viral sensations like Oliver Anthony have also faced similar accusations.
Most recently, critics have turned their attention to Stella Lefty, a 23-year-old Chicago-based singer whose single “Boston” has propelled her into the spotlight via TikTok. Her background, however, has drawn scrutiny, particularly her father’s wealth as Groupon founder Eric Lefkofsky and her co-writing relationship with Noah Kahan, who contributed to “Boston” through interpolation of his hit “Stick Season.”
Lefty describes the online discourse as “unnatural,” noting that even her appearance, such as her smile, has become a subject of analysis. “People are constantly like, ‘What’s happening with your gums?’” she said in a recent interview.
Despite the criticism, Lefty acknowledges that such scrutiny accompanies fame. “There’s always going to be people who don’t like me or my music,” she said. “At the end of the day, I just focus on the people who do. This is what I decided to do—it’s a double-edged sword.”
Lefty’s manager, Adam Alpert of Disruptor Records, dismisses the “industry plant” narrative outright. “Industry plants don’t exist, no matter what anybody says or thinks from the outside of the music business,” he asserts.
Alpert argues that the term is a distraction from the core issue: quality music. He cites examples like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Gracie Abrams, emphasizing that all these artists, including Lefty, achieved success through compelling songs. “You have to make great songs that people like,” he explains. “All these artists that people call ‘industry plants’ are having success because they’ve done just that.”