Labrinth Expresses Frustration with the Music Industry: A Bold Message on Euphoria
Trending on Billboard
Labrinth has publicly expressed his frustrations with his record label and the entertainment industry at large in a striking post on social media that emerged unexpectedly on Friday, March 13.
In bold, white, all-caps letters set against a black backdrop, the musician’s message on Instagram read: “I’M DONE WITH THIS INDUSTRY. F–K COLUMBIA. DOUBLE F–K EUPHORIA.”
He concluded with a decisive “I’M OUT. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT X.”
Billboard has reached out to Columbia Records, HBO, and Labrinth’s representative for further comments on this surprising statement.
The motivations behind Labrinth’s candid remarks remain unclear. The artist recently released his album Cosmic Opera Act I in January through Columbia, a label he has been associated with since 2019. Additionally, he teased upcoming music on Instagram on March 4, with a post that included the caption “04.10.26,” which may refer to his upcoming score for the third season of Euphoria, set to premiere on April 12.
Having collaborated with Euphoria and its creator Sam Levinson since the show’s launch in 2019, Labrinth has composed and produced the music for the first two seasons. His song “I’m Tired,” featuring Zendaya, peaked at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100 during season two.
Reflecting on his experience, Labrinth explained in a 2022 interview with Billboard, “I don’t think I was excited about composing for a TV show, honestly speaking. I did want to compose music, but the thing that excited me the most was Sam’s passion for the show, and what he wanted to do … It felt like method acting with music.” He noted the genre-bending aspect of the score as particularly enjoyable, saying, “One minute you’re making funk and then the next minute you’re making, I don’t know, some Vivaldi piece of music.”
Before his involvement with Euphoria, Labrinth embarked on his career in 2010 with the single “Let the Sun Shine.” His debut album, Electronic Earth, followed two years later. This was among two albums released while he was signed to Syco, Simon Cowell’s record label, before moving to Columbia Records.
