Katy Perry, one of the most prominent artists of the past two decades, is facing challenges with her latest musical endeavors, leaving her devoted fanbase, the “KatyCats,” wanting more. The recent announcement of her new album, titled “143,” has stirred controversy and raised questions about her standing in the music industry.
Perry revealed her new album on July 12, coinciding with the release of her lead single, “WOMAN’S WORLD,” on July 11. This new chapter in her career has been mired in controversy. Known for iconic hits like “Firework” and “Teenage Dream,” Perry seems to be struggling to maintain her relevance in a rapidly evolving musical landscape.
One of the factors contributing to this perceived decline is the apparent lack of promotional effort surrounding her new album. Historically, marketing has been a longstanding issue for Perry; for instance, her 2017 album, “Witness,” sold only 600,000 copies compared to 4,230,000 for her 2013 album, “Prism.”
Although Perry announced “143” more than two months before its release date of September 20, there has been little buzz about the album since the announcement. Her occasional Instagram posts about the album have not garnered positive engagement from fans.
Many fans have expressed disappointment with the lead single, “WOMAN’S WORLD,” criticizing both its lyrics and the production team, which included Dr. Luke, Rocco Did It Again!, Vaughn Oliver, and Aaron Joseph. The involvement of Dr. Luke is particularly controversial, given his history; in 2014, Kesha filed a lawsuit against him alleging multiple instances of sexual assault, which attracted support from artists such as Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. The lawsuit was settled in 2023.
In a recent appearance on Alex Cooper’s podcast, “Call Her Daddy,” Perry discussed her collaboration with Dr. Luke while reflecting on her personal growth. She defended this partnership, stating, “The truth is I wrote these songs from my experience of my whole life going through this metamorphosis, and he was one of the people to help facilitate all that—one of the writers, one of the producers.”
Additionally, concerns have been raised about Perry’s musical direction and lack of diversity in sound. Since rising to fame, she has been associated primarily with bubblegum pop and dance music. Many fans feel her style has not evolved since her debut in 2008.
The release of her second single, “LIFETIMES,” on August 8 did receive slightly more attention, but listeners criticized its repetitive qualities. Both singles have struggled to achieve streaming numbers similar to previous hits like “Roar” and “Dark Horse.” “Lifetimes” debuted at No. 198 on the Spotify 200 chart, while “Woman’s World” peaked at No. 190 shortly after its release.
Some critics suggest Perry’s attempts with “Woman’s World” aimed to capture the nostalgic vibes of the successful summer of 2023 led by tracks like Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night” and Lizzo’s “Pink.” However, “Woman’s World” has been criticized for its outdated sound.
Cat Zhang, a writer for “The Cut,” commented on Perry’s single, stating, “Most of all, she’s a 2010s relic, a faded pop star frantically attempting to clamber back to relevance, only to be thwarted by her inability to tell up from down.”
It appears that Perry may struggle to reclaim the heights of her earlier works, including “Teenage Dream,” “One of the Boys,” and “Prism.” Where her earlier albums once achieved millions of streams, her current musical phase seems unlikely to be remembered fondly.