Do you have what it takes to be a V.I.P.?
B o t h
Nepotism, Industry Plants, and Autonomy
Others happen to be born into industry-connected homes such as Jaden Smith, Chris Pine, and Emma Roberts. Many celebrities in this position find a unique autonomy they're a part of and produce themselves. Being at a young age with an array of available resources, young talent is able to mature and find its shape and sound much faster and on its own accord than other celebrities.
"Whip My Hair" Willow Smith
10 years old
written by Ronald "Jukebox" Jackson
and Janae Luann Ratliff
"Female Energy" Willow Smith
15 years old
written by Willow Smith
Industry Plant: a musical artist who has a major label backing their art before they get big in order to market them as they best see fit.
Nepotism is inescapable in the entertainment industry. It's why children of actors often slip into extra roles from a very young age. This only further complicates the competitive field of childhood entertainers. In the music industry, specifically, there's a new problem surfacing: the Industry Plant.
Criticism of the Industry Plant is that they do not have the opportunity to "develop a sense of agency or artistic development". From the audience perspective, it makes the artist appear homegrown and organic, something that a major music label can take further fiscal advantage of. Everyone likes those who come across as more authentic.
The title of Industry Plant is one often assumed of Billie Eilish, whose parents are famous actors Patrick O'Connell and Maggie Baird with large connections to the music industries.
Billie Eilish responding to being called "an industry plant" on the Zach Sang Show
Billie Eilish talking about what she loves and hates about the internet for Vanity Fair (6:15-8:18)
Billie Eilish reflecting on her relationship to stardom from ages 15-17 for Vanity Fair.
The fourth installment of this series can be found here.
It's heavily influenced by the pandemic.