How Has “Overnight Success” Turned into “Industry Plant?"

Graphic by Claire Arveson

Before technology and phones were basic necessities of life, we lived in a world where people could get famous completely overnight. While not actually spanning over one night, fame could come to people extremely quickly. Whether it’s an actor's breakout movie role or a musician's hit single, fame was able to be obtained quickly. When TikTok and nepotism babies hit the scene, fame was seen as this thing that could be bought, or acquired through connections.

The term “industry plant” was then invented, defined as a celebrity, typically a musician, who obtained their fame through a record label or industry connections, rather than organically growing.

I feel that this term has truly only become applicable in recent times. Many modern artists such as Chappell Roan, Doechii and Sabrina Carpenter, have been labeled as an “industry plant.”

Chappell Roan had been making music for years and years, with her most popular songs only getting attention now. Sabrina Carpenter, a famous Disney star with a five album discography, just now found mainstream success. Doechii, an amazing rapper who has had hits for the past five years, is just now gaining true success. 

But, to take a step back and understand the concept as a whole, is there really anything bad with an “industry plant?” I think that the world of music and fame is built off of connections and getting known through that. Not everyone relies on it, but it’s a crucial part of becoming famous and getting your voice heard. Although some use this term to just label music they don’t like, we need to remove this label as a whole.

Whether people like it or not, to get to the level of fame,they have to be connected to the industry. The world is full of great music, so why let the inner workings of the industry get in the way of it?