Songwriter, producer and OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder has seemingly taken a shot at artists who are releasing albums during the COVID-19 crisis.
“It's very tone-deaf,” he told USA Today. "And unless you're an artist who had a lot of momentum going into this pandemic like The Weeknd or Dua Lipa, it's really hard to get anyone to pay attention.
“Nobody can compete with the news cycle right now.”
Several artists, including Lady Gaga, have pushed back the release of new albums due to the outbreak.
The release of OneRepublic’s new album Human, scheduled for May 8, has been pushed to later this year. Four singles have already dropped, including the timely “Better Days” (profits from the song are being donated to the Red Cross).
Tedder said he has scrapped a plan to release another single in mid-May. “It's a summer song, it's like the Beach Boys, it feels like it's such a hit,” he said, “but I'm not going to do it in the middle of a pandemic.”
“I feel weird saying, ‘Come buy my stuff, check me out.’ Meanwhile, people are sick and dying.”
Tedder told USA Today he believes music fans will flock to concerts and festival next year.
“I think 2021 will break records. It's going to be touch and go for a little bit, but the thing about every terrible event in mankind's history – for better or worse – is people have a short-term memory,” he said.