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Since its release last week, Beyoncé’s new album has been called a “masterpiece” by enthusiastic critics and devoted fans.
Although Cowboy Carter received worldwide praise, the singer angered a group of fans by not putting the album’s bonus tracks on the vinyl version.
By failing to do so, the Texas Hold’Em singer fell into the same trap as Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish in recent years.
The A-List stars were criticized for not putting every track on every vinyl and releasing multiple “limited edition” versions to make even more money.
One moaned on TikTok: “It’s a shame because Ya Ya is probably in my top five favorite songs right now.” I’m quite upset.
Pictured: Beyoncé at the Renaissance premiere in London last year. The singer was criticized by fans for leaving bonus songs on her Cowboy Carter vinyl.
Since its release last week, Beyoncé’s new album has been called a “masterpiece” by enthusiastic critics and devoted fans.
Another added: “It looks like several songs from the album are NOT included on the LP. What’s up with that?!’
In a recent interview with BillboardBillie Eilish denounced the trend and said: “Some of the biggest artists in the world are creating 40 different fucking vinyl packs that have something unique, just to entice you to keep buying more.”
Here, FEMAIL looks at the trend of vinyl “waste” and how fans are being deprived of additional music.
Taylor Swift
In October 2022, Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album Midnights, which contained several limited edition vinyls.
Fans learned how the backs of the four different colored vinyls formed a clock face when placed next to each other.
However, none of the limited edition vinyls included the seven additional tracks, which appeared on the “3am edition”.
The star then released the “Til Dawn” edition of Midnights, which included three additional songs.
Taylor Swift attends the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton on January 7, 2024
Several different editions of Taylor Swift’s Midnights album were released and fans were encouraged to buy four to create a clock face.
However, the singer later released the track “You’re Losing Me” as an additional song from Midnights Late Edition.
This prompted fans to Reddit to call Taylor the “Queen of Capitalism” as they were encouraged to buy additional vinyl and CDs to listen to all of her music.
One moaned: “I want to own a vinyl record of Midnights in all its glory, but the more time passes the more I see that being unlikely.”
The star was also criticized by fans for releasing a limited edition Target vinyl for 1989 that contained a song exclusive to the retailer in 2023.
Publication on Reddit, one fumed: “Of course there will be an exclusive Target edition! How else could Blondie continue to financially abuse and manipulate her fan base?!’
Another added: “Of course there will be because she literally milks every release for as much (money) as she can get.”
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 10 in Los Angeles after winning an Oscar
Billie Eilish has released multiple versions of her Happier Than Ever vinyl – including a £120 Gucci collaboration
Although Billie Eilish has also released several limited edition vinyls of her album Happier Than Ever, the star appeared to lash out at her contemporaries in an interview with Billboard earlier this year.
She said: “Some of the biggest artists in the world are creating 40 fucking different vinyl packs that have a unique twist, just to entice you to keep buying more.
“It’s such a waste, and it’s irritating to me that we’re still at a point where you care so much about your numbers and making money – and it’s all your favorite artists doing this .”
After being accused of criticizing Taylor Swift, who released several limited edition variations of her re-recordings, Billie added: “I wasn’t targeting anyone, these are systemic, industry-wide issues.”
“When it comes to variations, many artists post them, including ME!”
In December 2021, the singer released a Happier Than Ever vinyl in collaboration with Gucci, which included nail stickers and a limited edition box.
However, Billie’s Happier Than Ever vinyls included all 16 tracks, which are also available on CD and streaming.
Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at the Wallis Annenberg Center
Olivia Rodrigo released four limited edition vinyl versions of her album Guts, which each included a different bonus song.
Following the release of her second album Guts in September 2023, Olivia Rodrigo has released four limited edition vinyls.
The colors red, white, purple and blue are available in store on its website.
But rather than omitting the bonus songs, Olivia made a point of including additional tracks on her vinyls.
According to Billboard, each variation has a “hidden song” that plays after the last track of the album.
On their die-hard fans buy them all. and it’s a waste.
Another wrote about Reddit: ‘I think a lot of thought went into this – it was definitely intentional so that people would buy 4 copies of the same vinyl just to have all the bonus tracks.
“I’m not a fan and I find it rather pointless. I’m not going to change records just to hear a song, you know?’
“I agree,” said a third. “Different artwork and pressings plus more bonus songs would have made it better.”
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Gen Z women were helping fuel the vinyl revival by buying new records from modern artists.
Some 6.5 million vinyl records were bought in the UK last year, making it the 16th consecutive year of growth – with stars Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar and Harry Styles credited for the boom.
Industry experts now say that Generation Z is driving this trend, whereas in the past it was more likely that middle-aged men and women would be buying vinyl from a younger age.
It comes as an industry group today revealed the number of independent record stores in Britain has reached its highest level in 10 years, with 461 independent record stores across the country – up 122 a decade ago .
HMV boss Phil Halliday previously told MailOnline that Gen Z vinyl fans buying modern artists was a cause for optimism as his retail business recently reopened its popular Oxford Street branch in central London.
He told the Times: ‘It’s not like that anymore. We’re what people jokingly call a cool record store in Soho.
“But we sell more Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West than any other artist.”
And he described an increase in young women coming to buy vinyl, calling it “fantastic to see”.
He added: “They come in and want to buy a record, not because it’s cool or their boyfriend wants one, but because they want it.”
Seven of last year’s ten most popular vinyl records were released in 2003, led by Swift’s 1989 (Taylor’s Version) and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), Lana’s Did You Know There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd Del Rey and Guts by Olivia Rodrigo.
ERA chief executive Kim Bayley blamed the recent similar recovery in independent stores on the fact that they have noted further spikes in sales of physical records – even though many supermarkets and other department stores have stopped carrying them .
She said: “Despite being largely owner-managed, independent companies have overcome competition from some of the largest and best-funded companies in the country – independent companies have found their niche and they are here to stay.”
About half of all vinyl sales last year were made by people aged 16 to 24, with Gen Z women tending to spend slightly more than men.