Halsey calls out alt radio for sexism after stations refuse to play '11 minutes’

17 April 2019, 14:19

By Sam Prance

Alt radio stations have labelled Halsey's recent YUNGBLUD hit "too pop"...

Halsey has called out alt radio stations for not playing her YUNGBLUD and Travis Barker collaboration '11 Minutes'.

Halsey may be one of the biggest pop stars in the world right now but she started out as an indie outsider. Some radio stations were reluctant to play her songs at first and it wasn't until she'd had a Number 1 hit with The Chainsmokers ('Closer') that they started to pay attention. Since then she's dominated pop radio with songs including 'Without Me' and 'Eastside' but many alt radio stations still refuse to play her more alternative songs and now she's criticising them for it.

Taking to Instagram stories to express her frustration, Halsey wrote: “Weird that some alt stations are calling 11 Minutes "too pop" when I’m tuning into their stations and hearing full blown EDM records these days." She then went on to add: "Forget that 11 Minutes has more live guitar and live recorded organic kit than most other alt songs. But it’s cause there’s a girly voice on it right?”

Halsey continued: "Guess alt radio met their quote of the 3 to 5 (women) they play monthly in between 10 year old legacy records". She ended the post writing: "Shout out to the other alt stations supporting it. I’m proud as hell of that record and it means a lot to hear my voice back on rock radio.”

Halsey also wrote in a separate post: “I’m happy to make all kinds of music. Pop alt electronic etc. this is a world of genre blending. But it makes my blood boil for all the other hardworking women in alt music I know and respect. Boys club.”

Halsey later cleared up that she wasn't calling out the stations for herself but for all of the women in alt music who are neglected and ignored by alt-stations. She wrote: "It’s not about me!!!! It’s about the other women who work so hard in alt music just to get neglected by a platform that plays 90% men! It’s outrageous".

Halsey is right. Historically alt radios rarely play women and it's not just alt music. Country music and other genres regularly fail to give women any significant airplay. Here's hoping that people listen to Halsey.

What do you think? Is Halsey right to call alt-radio out?