In a recent interview with Complex, “Princess Diana” rapper, Ice Spice, spoke on the importance of critics’ opinions on her music. When asked whose opinion she cares about, she candidly answers “the critics.” In music, we often see artists saying the exact opposite of the rising New York rapper. Many believe that the critics are a part of “the haters” and that their opinions don’t matter simply because they are always looking to pick apart what some may consider artistry. Also, with the prominence of streaming, the numbers and plays make it seem like the critics’ opinions really don’t matter as long as the people are listening. So now the question is, whose opinion really matters here?
Elaborating more on her stance, Ice Spice says she cares about the critics’ opinions “because they actually study music and care about it.” She continues by saying “I’m more interested in [critics’ opinions] because at least it’ll be paragraphs explaining why they feel that way and I’ll be able to understand the person better versus just one little hateful comment from a private page.” Ice Spice makes a great point. She cares about the opinions of those with a background in music because they are the people who will help her grow. Ice Spice also acknowledges that her music isn’t for everyone. No one’s music is, but she also wants to know why people may not like her music. Is there something she could be doing differently or is it just not their taste? She is open to constructive criticism, a valuable skill for any newcomer in any industry.
In 2023, music is a highly-saturated industry now more than ever, and sometimes it is difficult to stand out amongst the crowd. Music critics can be helpful for growing artists as they are learning how to create music that is authentic while being longstanding and memorable. While some critics’ delivery can be a bit harsh, it is safe to assume that most music critics have given artist projects a fair listen to form their opinion. As a growing artist, Ice Spice is benefiting from valuing the opinions of her critics. She’s taking in their reviews and using them to inform her next moves in the industry and is becoming an artist that her fans can’t get enough of.
On the other hand, this is not to say that critics have the most important opinion here. After all, the artists are making music for the people. Additionally, critics will not always align with the views of the general public, and this is where a lot of artists begin to discredit the opinions of music reviewers. Many artists believe that as long as the streaming numbers are high, someone is loving the music, and they’re doing everything right. In a way, this thought process is kind of true. Some music critics are stuck in older and more traditional ways of viewing music and will not always get it. This explains how projects can receive poor reviews and somehow still land on the Billboard Hot 100. However, as the industry continues to shift and new artists and records are popping up every day, the critics will also begin to evolve and be more in touch with what the people are enjoying.
So once again, the big question is “whose opinion really matters more?” and the answer is neither. Not shocking, but it’s all about balance. Like Ice Spice, up and coming artists should take the opinions of music critics into account. If your music is making enough of an impact for someone to review it in the first place, then maybe the critic has your best interest in mind and wants to offer insight on how to be more than a one-hit wonder or just a social media artist. However, artists should also take the opinions of their fans into account to keep them engaged and supporting their artistry. The best music comes from artists who apply the advice of other professionals while also creating a one of a kind lane for themselves that fans will continue to love and others can identify with. After all, no one wants to be remembered as the artist that had so much potential but “fell off.”