Let’s talk about Chloe Bailey’s debut album ‘In Pieces’ and its first-week sales. It entered the Billboard 200 at 119, selling 10,000 units. Many fans expressed disappointment, with some pointing fingers at her mentor, Beyoncé. However, for a new artist like Chloe, focusing on sales may not be fair. She’s still exploring her sound and building her fan base. With the right singles, ‘In Pieces’ could gain momentum. Unfortunately, the choices like ‘Prayed Away’ and ‘Cheat Back’ didn’t resonate well. The album’s gems like ‘Body Do’, ‘In Pieces’, and ‘I Don’t Mind’ were overlooked. ‘Body Do’ could have been a strong debut single, while ‘In Pieces’ and ‘I Don’t Mind’ offer diverse radio potential. Including popular singles like ‘Have Mercy’ and ‘Surprise Me’ might have boosted sales. With better singles and song choices, Chloe’s album could have seen a different reception.
“I’ve been reflecting on this topic, and it seems many fans are pointing fingers at Beyoncé, alleging she hasn’t adequately promoted Chloe. They’re expressing dissatisfaction with Chloe’s mentor, Beyoncé, believing she hasn’t given enough support to Chloe’s album ‘In Pieces’. For those unaware, Chloe is under the management of Beyoncé’s company, Parkwood Entertainment, and she’s also signed to Columbia, the same label as Beyoncé. Given these connections, Beyoncé undoubtedly holds significant sway over Chloe’s career trajectory.”
Several comments surfaced regarding Beyoncé’s alleged lack of support for promoting Chloe’s album. One critic argued that a simple Instagram repost from Beyoncé could have significantly boosted Chloe’s album debut, suggesting a disparity in treatment compared to artists under Nicki Minaj’s wing. Another commenter implied that Chloe’s success might have been stunted because Beyoncé is reserving the spotlight for her own daughter, Ivy, indicating a lack of investment in Chloe’s career.
Some went as far as accusing Beyoncé of intentionally allowing Chloe to falter to prevent her from surpassing her own success. Conversely, supporters of Chloe expressed frustration, asserting that with better marketing, guidance, and autonomy, Chloe could rise to Beyoncé’s level of acclaim. Despite the criticisms, some fans remained supportive of Chloe, expressing pride in her achievements while admonishing Parkwood and Beyoncé for perceived negligence.
Critics pointed fingers at Beyoncé for not actively encouraging her fans to stream Chloe’s album, branding her actions as bitter and detrimental to Chloe’s career. Suggestions were made for Chloe to seek new management and a different record label to escape Beyoncé’s alleged interference.
A particularly elaborate theory emerged, alleging that Beyoncé sabotaged Chloe’s album release to protect her own legacy. According to this narrative, Beyoncé foresaw Chloe eclipsing her and intervened to maintain her dominance in the industry. The sentiment extended to criticism of Chloe’s supposed transformation into an urban mainstream R&B artist, which some deemed incongruent with her true identity.
Lastly, conflicting views surfaced regarding Chloe’s path to success. While some argued that she should carve her own niche rather than rely on Beyoncé’s influence, others contended that it’s unrealistic to sever ties with her mentor completely, especially considering Parkwood’s support of her album debut and Chloe’s burgeoning presence in various media platforms.
These viewpoints are quite intriguing. While many are quick to point fingers at Beyoncé, some argue she shouldn’t bear the blame. After all, Beyoncé hasn’t heavily promoted her album ‘Renaissance’ or released accompanying visuals. If she’s not actively promoting herself, how could she effectively promote her own protege? However, the criticism towards Beyoncé from Chloe’s fans stems from a perceived lack of proper guidance in Chloe’s musical direction. A telling example is when Chloe conducted a poll for her fans to select which song she should release, with ‘For the Night’ and ‘Surprise’ as options. Despite ‘For the Night’ winning the poll, Chloe chose to release ‘Surprise’ at Beyoncé’s suggestion. Her statement, “I know what y’all picked about the polls, but when the queen speaks, the queen speaks, and that’s all I’m gonna say, and that’s all that matters to me,” further fueled the fans’ distrust towards Beyoncé. This incident, among others, has led Chloe’s fans to lay blame on Beyoncé for various aspects of Chloe’s career.
Blaming Beyoncé isn’t entirely fair, and here’s why. While Beyoncé might not have directly promoted Chloe’s album, she’s provided her with ample resources to make her mark. Parkwood, Beyoncé’s management company, has been instrumental in promoting Chloe and her sister Hallie. Chloe’s solo career has seen her grace major platforms and award shows, backed by significant endorsements like the Pepsi commercial. Her ‘In Pieces’ promotional efforts garnered considerable attention, including features on streaming playlists and appearances on renowned talk shows like Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Today, Tamron Hall, and ABC News. Not to mention, she’s been busy with press for her album, movie ‘Praise This,’ and TV show ‘Swarm,’ ensuring she’s visible on multiple fronts.
Beyoncé hardly needs to post anything herself thanks to her management company, Parkwood, which is doing the lion’s share of the work. Beyoncé provides the resources, and they’re put to good use by her team. Chloe, I believe, has handled the promotion of her album ‘In Pieces’ admirably. Juggling intensive promotional efforts alongside tour rehearsals is no small feat. Despite all the visibility she’s garnered, she only managed to sell 10,000 units in the first week. Is it fair to point fingers at Beyoncé for this? Not really. Her management company has pushed hard to promote Chloe, and Beyoncé has granted her creative freedom. So where does the responsibility lie? Frankly, I don’t think anyone is entirely to blame. Simply put, Chloe’s album didn’t resonate with the audience, partly due to the choice of singles. Different singles might have made all the difference, in my view.
Was Chloe’s departure from Chloe x Halle premature? There’s been a recurring conversation about her potentially disconnecting from her original fan base. Before embarking on her solo journey, she flourished alongside her sister, Halle, in the duo Chloe and Halle. Their growth was remarkable, evolving from underground artists to achieving notable success with their album ‘Ungodly Hour’, which debuted impressively, selling 24,000 units in its first week. The platinum hit ‘Do It’ was a significant milestone, especially considering their earlier album, ‘The Kids Are All Right’, didn’t garner similar attention. Their rise was palpable, marked by viral virtual performances during the pandemic.
Their collective musicality was remarkable, boasting a unique sonic palette and a polished, sophisticated image that remained cutting-edge yet relatable. Their prowess as writers and producers further underscored their musical genius.
However, Chloe’s solo venture saw her veer toward trendy R&B sounds, inadvertently blending into a crowded landscape and drawing comparisons to Beyoncé. In her quest to meet perceived expectations, she risked losing her core audience, a narrative that unfolded amid her struggle to define her identity. This transition posed challenges as she sought to navigate a new path while potentially alienating her initial fan base. Chloe’s current journey appears marked by turbulence as she endeavors to forge a new connection with a different audience, indicative of a transitional phase where finding her footing remains paramount.
After the buzz surrounding her sales hit the internet, Chloe addressed it, expressing, “In Pieces” was a journey of letting go and trusting myself. I’ve cherished every moment and appreciate everyone who’s listened. Tour kicks off tomorrow in Chicago, and I’m pumped to share these songs with you all.” Chloe’s maintaining a positive perspective, which is great to see. As I mentioned earlier, it’s not the end for this album. I believe there’s still room for growth. All it takes is the right single to boost her momentum. Once that happens, I’m confident more people will take notice of her album. What are your thoughts on this? Feel free to share in the comments below. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe, and share this video if you found it valuable. Thanks for tuning in, and until next time!”