Billie Eilish hits out at ‘wasteful’ artists releasing multiple vinyl versions of records

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Billie Eilish has shared her disapproval of main artists releasing “wasteful” vinyl variants of their records to encourage followers to purchase multiple copies.

The two-time Oscar-winning singer-songwriter has championed sustainability all through her profession, and has made efforts to make sure her excursions are as environmentally pleasant as potential.

In a brand new interview with Billboard, Eilish, 22, responded to a query about some musicians releasing multiple versions of their albums, and admitted she discovered the follow “irritating”.

“We live in this day and age where, for some reason, it’s very important to some artists to make all sorts of different vinyl and packaging… which ups the sales and ups the numbers and gets them more money and gets them more,” she started.

Eilish’s mom, Maggie Baird, was additionally within the dialog and famous that the multiple releases all contribute in direction of chart rankings.

“I can’t even express to you how wasteful it is,” the “What Was I Made For?” vocalist replied.

“It is right in front of our faces and people are just getting away with it left and right, and I find it really frustrating as somebody who really goes out of my way to be sustainable and do the best that I can and try to involve everybody in my team in being sustainable — and then it’s some of the biggest artists in the world making f***ing 40 different vinyl packages that have a different unique thing just to get you to keep buying more.

“It’s so wasteful, and it’s irritating to me that we’re still at a point where you care that much about your numbers and you care that much about making money — and it’s all your favourite artists doing that s***.

In 2023, The Rolling Stones released at least 43 variants of their comeback album Hackney Diamonds. Each version contained the same track list, but came with different artwork.

Taylor Swift is another artist known for releasing several collectors’ vinyl versions of her records. In January, it was revealed that the “Anti-Hero” singer accounted for one in each 15 vinyl gross sales within the US final yr.

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Swift’s forthcoming album The Tortured Poets Department, due for launch on 19 April, is predicted to come back with 4 different-coloured vinyl editions. With every model containing a distinct bonus monitor, it stands as an incentive for followers to purchase multiple, if not all 4.

Eilish’s 2021 album, Happier Than Ever, got here in eight vinyl variants however used 100 per cent recycled black vinyl and shrink-wrap constructed from sugar cane.

In 2019, Eilish spoke in regards to the inexperienced measures she’d be taking for her tour.

“We’re actually bringing someone from Reverb, this company that basically specialises in the best and most healthy and green ways to do everything,” she advised US speak present host Jimmy Fallon.

“So there’s no plastic straws allowed, the fans are going to bring their own water bottles, there’s going to be recycle cans everywhere, because it’s like, if something’s recyclable, it doesn’t matter unless there’s a recycle bin.”

Her mom Maggie Baird has additionally famous the affect of David Attenborough on Eilish’s ardour for sustainability.