10 Artists the Industry Tried to Push On Us (& Failed)

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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu WRITTEN BY: Aidan Johnson

They had the full machine behind them — flashy marketing, A‑list collabs, viral moments and heavy label backing — yet never became the mainstream giants the industry dreamed of. From Nickelodeon-fueled teen stars to K‑pop scandals, Grammy wins that didn't translate to solo dominance, and careers hampered by lawsuits, rebrands and backlash, we dig into the stories of JoJo Siwa, Quavo, Fifty Fifty, Cody Simpson, Jaden Smith, Sky Ferreira, Normani, Iggy Azalea, Kim Petras and Rita Ora. We also touch on honorable mentions like Ashlee Simpson, Kep1er and Got the Beat. Were there any industry pushes we missed? Let us know in the comments!

Ashlee Simpson
Kep1er
Got the Beat

Ashlee Simpson

A Lip-Synching Scandal Ended the Career of Jessica Simpson’s Younger Sister

Kep1er

Except for One Song, This Girl Group Has Yet to Become Mainstream

Got the Beat

Despite Being a Supergroup, They’ve Never Been as Big as Their Original Projects

Rita Ora

In the early 2010s, Rita Ora became one of Britain’s biggest pop stars, but is barely known in the United States. It’s not for a lack of trying, but Ora is more known for hosting “America’s Next Top Model” and appearing in the “Fifty Shades” series. When she was first signed to Roc Nation by Jay-Z in 2009, she was promoted as the next Rihanna. After years of trying, this never came true. She’s still had a highly successful career, and is a household name in the UK, but that’s not the global market the industry intended.

Were there any particularly disastrous industry plants we failed to mention? Why don’t you let us know in the comments section!

MsMojo JoJo Siwa Quavo Fifty Fifty Cody Simpson Jaden Smith Sky Ferreira Normani Iggy Azalea Kim Petras Rita Ora Ashlee Simpson Kep1er Got the Beat industry push industry plant major labels pop music kpop scandal rebrand Grammy win viral hit streaming Nickelodeon music lawsuits social media influencer

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