Lizzo's New Single Debuts, But Its Arrival May Signal Trouble For Her Career

Forbes

28-03-2025

Lizzo's 'Still Bad' debuts on three Billboard radio charts, but the single misses out on the Hot 100 ... More and sales/streaming rankings as her new era begins quietly. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 14: Lizzo poses during Reel To Reel: LOVE, LIZZO at The GRAMMY Museum on December 14, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor The Recording Academy)
Lizzo is back. After months of relative silence, the Grammy winner returns to the Billboard charts this week with a new single, kicking off the latest chapter of her career. The singer has been unusually quiet when it comes to music lately, and while her diehard fans may be excited to hear from her again, the numbers suggest this new era might not start with the bang she's used to.
'Still Bad' begins its journey on three Billboard tallies this week. All of them track how many people are hearing a particular tune on specific types of radio stations.
The cut earns its highest debut on the Adult Pop Airplay chart, where it opens at No. 29. That's a respectable start on a ranking that's often tough for new singles to crack. It also appears inside the top 40 on two other tallies, opening on both the Pop Airplay (No. 33) and Rhythmic Airplay charts (No. 37).
Lizzo adds to her growing total count of smashes on each and every one of the lists she arrives on this frame, though she hasn't reached any of them the same number of times.
The tune is her seventh showing on the Rhythmic Airplay list and her eighth on the Adult Pop Airplay chart. She scores her ninth placement on the Pop Airplay roster with this drop.
'Still Bad' doesn't appear on any of the more closely-watched rankings that measure actual fan consumption. That would include the Hot 100, Billboard's flagship chart, which blends streams, sales, and radio airplay to determine the most popular songs in the U.S.
The composition also misses out on both the Streaming Songs and Digital Song Sales charts. Those lists are compiled entirely by fan data, as supporters can instantly buy or stream a tune the moment it arrives, but the same can't be said for radio.
The fact that 'Still Bad' is present on multiple radio rankings but nowhere else speaks volumes about how things are going for the track, and the musician behind it. There's still some real support for Lizzo within the industry, as it's clear that radio programmers and station heads are willing to give her new work a shot. It's also clear that the public response to 'Still Bad' hasn't been nearly as strong as the reception from industry figures, at least not yet.
'Still Bad' is actually Lizzo's second attempt at launching her upcoming full-length, Love in Real Life. The first taste of the project came in the form of its title track, which didn't chart anywhere in the U.S. upon release.
Lizzo is currently in a tough spot. Legal battles and serious allegations have complicated her public image, and whether that's the main reason behind her recent chart struggles, or perhaps if fans just aren't connecting with the new material, things seem more uncertain for her than they have in years.