Rebecca Black on the Evolution of Song Virality: ‘No Longer Are We Being Told What to Listen to’
Ahead of her new album Age of the Exhibitionist, Rebecca Black joins the Billboard On the Record podcast to talk about virality then and now, and why she never signed a label deal.
In the 15 years since Rebecca Black's "Friday" went viral on YouTube, the music industry and virality have drastically evolved. Once confined to the internet mainstream, today's music discovery is driven by complex algorithms on platforms like TikTok and Spotify. Rebecca Black tells Billboard that the viral experience she had in 2011 might not exist in the fragmented digital landscape of today.
While artists can now be discovered through a single post, not all virality brings the intended success, as some go too early or end up in the wrong places. Black joins Billboard On the Record to discuss the changes in virality, the new RIAA Platinum certification for "Friday," and her upcoming album Age of the Exhibitionist.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
