For an aspiring pop superstar, a major label deal is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the culmination of sometimes years of hard won battles and minor victories in the independent sphere. But though these deals often bring with them increased exposure, an inflated budget and an abundance of networking/collaborative opportunities, they by no means guarantee graduation into the upper echelon. For some, a label can be creatively stifling, while others may be given a world of chances and boundless freedom, only to fall short time after time.
The artists examined in this post for the most part fall into that latter group - promising talents, seemingly sure things that, for one reason or another, just couldn't break the Bubbling Under Hot 100 ceiling.
The Comeup: The daughter of Hustler CFO Tom Candy, Brooke made waves in the summer of 2012 when she appeared alongside Grimes in the experimental artist's "Genesis" music video. Between 2012 and 2013, she independently released three songs - "Das Me,""Everybody Does," and the Britney-sampling "I Wanna Fuck Right Now" - that established her as a new talent to watch on the underground club-rap scene.
The Breakthrough: Upon making her major label debut as a featured artist on Charli XCX's 2013 album 'True Romance,' Candy secured her own contract with RCA at the beginning of 2014. By now having gained the admiration of the fashion set, her first single with the label ("Opulence," produced by Diplo and co-written by hitmaker Sia) boasted a music video styled by Nicola Formichetti and directed by Steven Klein. An EP of the same name followed that May.
The Fallout: After 'Opulence,' Candy set her sights on her debut album, to be called 'Daddy Issues' and executive produced by mentor Sia. A string of singles would drop and fail to connect with audiences, and in 2017 Candy parted ways with RCA, telling Noisey that the label retained ownership of 'Daddy Issues' and that it was effectively shelved. Candy released "Volcano," the first single from her as-yet-unreleased new EP, in July.
Jake Miller
The Comeup: A native of Weston, Florida, Miller's career was jumpstarted by a talent competition win at the age of 18. The $35,000 prize helped fund his pursuit of pop stardom, and he would release his first mixtape 'Summer Session' a few months later.
The Breakthrough: The top of 2013 would see Miller signing with independent label E1 Music, and in November he would drop his debut album 'Us Against Them.'Miller's breezy blend of pop and hip hop, as well as his heartthrob-by-numbers looks, would grab the attention of Warner Brothers, under whom he would release three EPs between 2014 and 2016 and gain representation from Wilhelmina Models.
The Fallout: After 2016's 'Overnight' EP, a high-gloss blend of pop and R&B in the vein of Nick Jonas and Justin Bieber, failed to launch Miller into the stratosphere, he quietly parted ways with Warner Brothers. He has since released two albums via Empire Distribution, much to the delight of his small but dedicated fanbase, the "Millertary."
Leighton Meester
The Comeup: Meester was already a star when she began pursuing music in 2009, having entered the pop consciousness two years earlier with the series premiere of The CW's scandalous teen drama 'Gossip Girl.'
The Breakthrough: Upon signing with Universal Republic, she lent her vocals to Cobra Starship's "Good Girls Go Bad," which peaked at #7 on the Hot 100. Her debut single, the slinky Robin Thicke-assisted "Somebody to Love," premiered several months later, with an album scheduled to follow in early 2010.
The Fallout: Neither "Somebody to Love" nor followup single "Your Love's a Drug" made much impact, and after several delays an album said to include productions by Polow Da Don and Harvey Mason Jr. (Britney Spears'"Mannequin," Fifth Harmony's "Sledgehammer") and a collaboration with Lil Wayne was shelved. Nearly five years later, Meester would finally release her debut album - 'Heartstrings,' which blended elements of folk and dream pop and received generally positive reviews.
Azealia Banks
The Comeup: With the release of "212" in September 2011, the then-still unsigned Banks seemed posed for world domination. The track solidified her as a force to be reckoned with in hip hop, and landed on many year-end best of lists. A contract with Interscope would soon follow, and the following spring would see the release of the critically acclaimed '1991' EP under the label.
The Breakthrough: Upon dropping her 'Fantasea' mixtape several months later, Banks would once again be heaped with accolades, the anticipation for her upcoming debut LP 'Broke With Expensive Taste' building to a crescendo.
The Fallout: A string of failed singles and label disagreements - not to mention a growing reputation as a burning hot mess - would lead to Banks parting ways with her label nearly one year after the release of 'Fantasea.'She would surprise-release 'Broke With Expensive Taste' a few months later, but her continued antics on- and offline would all but overshadow it and any subsequent projects.
Source: my own useless knowledge/flop taste
Videos via YouTube: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Chart positions via Billboard
Who are your favorite flops?