Halsey Says Label Blocked Her From Making New Album

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Halsey has revealed that her record label is preventing her from recording a new album, citing the commercial performance of her most recent release, The Great Impersonator.

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music released Sept. 18, the artist said, “I can’t make an album right now—I’m not allowed to. That’s the reality, because The Great Impersonator didn’t perform the way they thought it was going to.”

The October 2024 album sold more than 100,000 copies in its first week and was supported by the highest-grossing tour of Halsey’s career. Still, the singer argued that her label continues to measure her success against the blockbuster impact of Manic, her 2020 album.

“It’s impossible to replicate Manic numbers every time,” she explained. “I haven’t had a chart-topping single in a while, but my tour was the most successful I’ve ever had. That should matter.”

Reflecting on the pressure of her past chart dominance, Halsey described it as both a privilege and a challenge. “That’s the hardest part of having been a pop star once,” she said. “Because I’m not one anymore, but I’m still compared to people who I don’t even consider my peers.”

The 30-year-old, who has been open about health challenges including lupus and a bone marrow disorder, said those struggles deeply influenced The Great Impersonator. On the track Letter to God (1983), she sang: “Please, God, I don’t wanna be sick. And I don’t wanna hurt, so get it over with quick.”

Halsey has since reassured fans that her health has stabilized, sharing in June 2024 that with medical support, she is “feeling better and more grateful than ever to have music to turn to.”

Columbia Records has not yet responded to requests for comment.