How Pop Girlies Use Heartbreak as a Marketing Tool

It’s no coincidence that every major pop girl in the media has had an array of sad girl songs. These can range from relationship downfalls to best friend fallouts or feelings of self-disappointment. Whatever the case, these depressing songs usually result in high chart ratings and millions of streams.

These pop girls are employing a genius marketing strategy by profiting off their heartbreaks, whether for album success, branching out to other projects, or a chance to rebrand. The girlies are making the best out of their broken hearts – and honestly, good for them!

Olivia Rodrigo’s heartbreak album SOUR made her the first-ever new artist to have her first three singles debut in the top 10 back-to-back on the Billboard charts. The debut opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, with eight of the top ten songs on the Streaming Songs chart.

The album consists of 11 songs, all dealing with the heartbreak of the same man. It resembles the five stages of grief, with some songs delving into sorrow and loneliness, while others express loud anger reflecting the feelings of betrayal after being cheated on. Some tracks are more light-hearted, dealing with acceptance.

These are all emotions felt by everyone at least once in their lives, making it an award-winning album due to its relatability and exploration of a familiar topic.

 

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Taylor Swift, often referred to as ‘the music industry’ herself, has made millions off her previous relationships. One example is her infamous relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal. In 2012, she released her fourth studio album, Red, which included a song about their relationship called ‘All Too Well.’

It was later revealed that the original version was a lengthy 10 minutes. Fans were eager to hear the full version, and in 2022, when re-releasing Red (Taylor’s Version), she included the extended version.

From this, she directed a short film inspired by the song, starring Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink. The short film won a Grammy for Best Music Video and multiple MTV Music Awards. Safe to say, the heartbreak wasn’t all for nothing.

 

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Miley Cyrus’s catchy song ‘Flowers’ won her first Grammy as Record of the Year in 2024. The song was written as a pro-breakup anthem about her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth, with whom she had previously been in an on-again, off-again relationship.

In 2013, they broke off their engagement, leading to a Miley rebrand that will go down in history. The infamous ‘Wrecking Ball’ video marked a cultural reset, as Miley was previously best known as the icon, Hannah Montana.

She strategically used this moment to change the narrative, rebranding herself and asserting her place in the music industry. This proved to be an effective marketing tool, now, ten years later, Miley is thriving.

 

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Ultimately, the power of heartbreak in the music industry is undeniable. Artists are turning their personal struggles into profitable successes by leveraging effective marketing strategies. It’s a testament to their ability to make the best out of a bad situation.

So, the next time you’re singing along to a sad girl anthem, remember that these songs reflect a legacy of turning vulnerability into art. We should all take a page from these icons’ books and learn to make the best out of difficult situations.

Words by Alyssa O’Sullivan