In a candid discussion, Betty Who shares her thoughts on her career journey and the challenges she faced in the music industry, reflecting on her early successes and the lessons learned along the way.
Betty Who Reflects on Her Career Journey
Betty Who is candidly discussing her early success as a music artist and her feelings about not reaching what she describes as “pop’s upper echelon.”
Early Success and Viral Fame
The 33-year-old singer released her song “Somebody Loves You” in November 2012, which quickly went viral. However, this momentum was lost due to a decision made by her record label.
In a recent Reddit AMA, Betty reflected on her career journey. She shared, “I did a @reddit AMA last week and this question hit pretty hard,” along with a screencap of her response on Instagram.
“The life of a middle-class artist is being successful to some and a failure to others all at the same time. Many people replied to this on my story, so I figured I’d share it here. I don’t know if it will help anyone, but I want you to know you’re not alone in the struggle.”
Facing Challenges in the Music Industry
QUESTION: “Honest question – it felt like you were on the cusp of huge stardom with ‘Somebody Loves You’ and I even heard ‘All of You’ on the radio – how do you cope with not necessarily reaching pop’s upper echelon? I hope this isn’t offensive!”
BETTY’S RESPONSE: “Hahaha not offensive! Totally correct!
I had more support in the first two months of my professional music career than I’ve had probably any other time. Being the “new thing” meant that I was given so many opportunities I was frankly not prepared for. “Somebody Loves You” was already being added to top 40 radio without my record label at the time pushing it at all just because it had gone viral. However, my record label said, “We don’t want you to be the girl from the viral video,” and they pulled it from all radio stations – to wait for 6 months and send it then. I took planes, trains, and automobiles to every radio station in the country and got told the same thing everywhere I went. “We were already playing it. When you pulled it, we stopped. Now it’s too late.”It was a huge lesson in the “stars aligning” part of my job. Everything was coming up Betty until someone made a decision that was out of my control that halted everything and ended up with me on a shelf at a huge record label, crying on the phone to my label reps, begging for the support I had been given just months prior.
Embracing Growth and Change
On my bad days, I feel like a failure. Like I’ve let people down. A lot of people come to my show for the first time and say, “I don’t understand how you’re not bigger!” and I know they’re being nice, but it makes me feel bad. My parents tell me they think I deserve better, and I feel like I’ve disappointed them by not living up to all the potential they saw for me.
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On the other side of the coin – aka on my good days – I have to accept how things are. That I was 21, with no experience or support and signed to one of the biggest record labels in the world that didn’t care about my feelings – they care about their business. There’s a part of me that thinks if I had become “famous” at 21 with “Somebody Loves You,” I may not even be alive right now. Becoming successful at that young of an age has broken better people than me.
So I focus on the things that I’m proud of. I have checked things off my bucket list. I always wanted to play in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I did that. I always dreamed of being on Broadway. I did that. I’ve done really cool things, and the people who are my fans still show up and support me and have created a really special community.
I guess my “why” has changed. When I was younger, if you asked me why I was doing this – making music, performing – it would be… because I’m good at it! That’s what I’m supposed to do!
Now it’s a little deeper. I believe in the power of music. I know what it feels like to listen to a song that makes me cry, makes me laugh, makes me feel like a bad bitch. I think a lot more about my audience now. How can I support them? What do they need to hear right now? How can I be of service through this gift I was given – through my love of music.
This was a really long answer, but you asked a tough question!
Creating in spite of it looking different than I had imagined it always would feels like the mission now. Trust that it’s all as it’s supposed to be. And I just have to keep going. It’s a very human experience – growing up! Priorities shifting. Ego lessening. Being kinder to myself. It’s been a long journey, with lots of therapy involved. Can’t recommend it enough lol.”
Betty is back with new music this year!
