Top 10 WTF Moments in Music of 2017

In 2017, Taylor Swift once again re-shaped pop culture. First, she released her “Reputation” album cover; a polarizing portrait that immediately inspired internet memes. But when Taylor dropped her new single and music video, “Look What You Made Me Do,” she gave the world even more to gossip about, most notably her sexier image and electro sound. If you weren’t sure that a new Taylor had emerged, she made it blatantly clear with her phone call dialogue. Then, she literally stripped down for “Ready for It,” proving that the old Taylor is gone for good. And, as if all of that wasn’t strange enough, she also introduced “Taylor’ Swift Tix,” where fans are encouraged to buy “boosts” to have a better chance of getting concert tickets.  

In 2016, Music Business Worldwide reported that Spotify was not only promoting fake artists, but also using the music to save money for licensing costs. A year later, the controversy reignited, as Spotify finally responded to the allegations and denied any wrongdoing. Even though set fees seem to be common in the background music industry, the lack of online social media profiles and presence on other streaming services by these “artists” was considered a red flag by many. So, the moral of the story is that your atmospheric playlists just may be the alter-ego work of professional musicians.  

In July 2017, pop culture was buzzing about Meek Mill’s new album “Wins & Losses.” But that now seems to be old news, as the Philadelphia MC’ is not available for public appearances after his past came back to haunt him. On November 6, Meek Mill was sentenced to two to four years for violating his probation. In response, Jay-Z, Kevin Hart and many others questioned the legal system and the racial elements at play. Because of Meek’s fame, he was even briefly held in solitary confinement; a bizarre turn for a man that had been living publically as a notable figure in the hip-hop world.    

In 2017, Katy Perry emerged with a bold new musical direction on her album “Witness”. The breakout singles “Swish Swish” and “Bon Appétit” were received with mixed results, drawing an equal amount of criticism and praise. She followed this up with a performance on Saturday Night Live, that left many fans confused about Perry’s new “edgy” persona. While there’s no way of knowing what spawned this new identity, Perry’s 96-hour live stream provided some insight into Katy’s past and her struggle to deal with suicidal thoughts and depression. Some critics called it a “bizarre publicity stunt” while others applauded Perry for her honesty and openness.    

In pop culture, Lil B is well known for cursing NBA players and for his light-hearted-demeanor. But at the 2017 Rolling Loud festival, the West Coast MC paid a price for talking about East Coast rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie.  Lil B announced that he’d been attacked by Boogie, PnB Rock and others – but rather than making matters worse, he decided to promote peace. He also cancelled his show because Boogie’s crew apparently took all his gear. Shortly after, the beef was officially squashed, resulting in even more confusion given the timeline of events, and the violent nature of the original attack.   

As one of the leading artists of the new hip hop movement, Gustav Åhr a.k.a Lil Peep appeared to be on the verge of pop culture stardom. For some, he was already there, being compared to the likes of Kurt Cobain. But just three months after releasing his debut album, “Come Over When You’re Sober, Part 1,” Lil Peep was found dead in his tour bus during a stop in Tucson, Arizona. An accidental overdose was the official cause of death, sparking a debate on drug use in hip hop culture, as well as the wider debate on the opiate crisis in America.    

Since releasing his 1993 debut, R&B singer R. Kelly has had his share of run-ins with the law. In 2017, allegations emerged in an article published by BuzzFeed that accused Kelly of running a sex cult. The report revealed that the singer had physical and psychological control of six women, which R. Kelly later denied. In September, a former girlfriend came forward, alleging that R. Kelly had been abusive and controlling towards her. For two decades, disturbing allegations have been made, and the latest developments are disturbing, to say the least.    

On October 2nd, news spread that American singer Tom Petty had passed away. Many offered their usual “thoughts and prayers,” which made sense after the LAPD reported his death. Only, Petty was still alive at the UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, California. This pop culture moment gave insight into our social media habits with regards to death, and how inaccurate reporting can lead to displaced grief. Petty ultimately did pass away on October 2, and the news was delivered by his official account.    

Billy McFarland, an American entrepreneur, had a dream. That dream, unfortunately, involved deception. When he established Fyre Media and began promoting an epic music festival in the Bahamas, he managed to get celebrities to promote the event. The rapper Ja Rule was even a co-organizer, so it all seemed legit. But when people arrived for their luxury event, they didn’t quite get what they had paid for, nor did they get a concert at all. Some were stranded on the island, while Ja Rule used Twitter to deny any responsibility. Ultimately, he and McFarland were sued for one hundred million dollars, and Fyre Media’s founder was arrested and charged for wire fraud.
  
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- XXXTentacion's Rise and Controversial Behavior
- Snoop Dogg and Donald Trump's Dead Body    

On May 18, shortly after performing his last concert with Soundgarden, Chris Cornell took his own life. The death obviously shocked fans and fellow musicians, but it especially affected his good friend, Chester Bennington. The Linkin Park singer was visibly emotional on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” the following day, and he later performed “Hallelujah” at Cornell’s funeral.  Sadly, the 41-year-old Bennington took his own life two months later; the same day that Cornell would’ve turned 53 years old. These events shook up pop culture and raised important questions about mental health issues.