Waging war against Stella Lefty...or the machine that made her?

I've never minded nepo babies. We don't choose what hand we're dealt and having successful parents is nothing to hold against someone. In fact, you should always use your nepotism to your advantage. If you're chasing a dream, it behooves you to use every resource, tool, asset you have. Anyone who says otherwise is just broke and jealous. But in the case of Stella Lefty — the artist from Chicago, living in Los Angeles, with the billionaire father, currently atop the country charts… Her nepotism may offer an advantage, but it's a failed industry that's turned advantage into credibility. Letters From Lucas... is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I've been patiently awaiting the appropriate time to open an establishment that could very well save the music industry as we know it. Introducing… The Department of Musical Voices, by Lucas Flood. In this branch of government, I would of course reign as King, protecting talented young artists and songwriters from an industry that admits anyone with a pulse, while ignoring the standards it claims to uphold. This new DMV would not only hold every artist to the same standard, but judge every artist by the same criteria: talent, originality, and integrity — regardless of access, influence, or popularity. Lucas Flood, Head of Hits, cannot be bought! Anyone can create. Anyone can release a song. But followers & virality shouldn't automatically earn someone credibility, awards, or a place at the front of the line. As of Monday September 7th, 'Boston,' by Stella Lefty, has 193,742,056 streams on Spotify. It's averaging 1.3M streams per day. It reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Before its release, Lefty posted a clip on TikTok, where users quickly noticed that the chorus sounded strikingly similar to Noah Kahan's 2022 hit 'Stick Season.' Althoughshe maintainedthat the similarity was unintentional, Lefty and her team ultimately agreed to add Kahan as an official co-writer to avoid a legal dispute. According to Consequence of Sound, 'Summer You Were Mine,' a track from Lefty's debut albumLong Way Home, borrows fromThe Chicks' 1998 hit 'There's Your Trouble.' Fans noticed the resemblance after the album arrived on August 21st, but the original songwriters, Tia Sillers and Mark Selby, were initially missing from the credits on streaming services. Atlantic Records says that was a platform error. Their names have since been added to the credits. According to NME, Stella Lefty is facing a third plagiarism allegation over similarities between her song 'Why Wouldn't We' and Blake Shelton's 2017 hit 'I'll Name the Dogs.' Listeners have pointed to overlap in the music, melodies, and lyrics, with both songs centered on dividing everyday responsibilities as a relationship becomes more serious. So where does it end? It's one thing to have co-writers. It's another to build a catalog that repeatedly requires listeners to ask where they've heard it before. Building a career using such tactics would unfortunately result in a denied application from the Lucas Flood Department of Musical Voices. Reapplication is encouraged though — once the work becomes unmistakably her own. While it's easy to criticize Stella Lefty, she is still nominated for two VMAs this fall. She was still featured at the Grand Ole Opry. And she's still going on a headlining tour across the world, that's almost sold out. What we're seeing is much bigger than nepotism or plagiarism — we're witnessing the result of every facet of an industry working together to reward its own decisions. Labels manufacture momentum. Platforms amplify it. Press validates it. Awards institutionalize it. And prestigious stages make it look earned. The industry isn't discovering stars anymore, it's manufacturing consensus. And even though the machine can manufacture a star — it still has yet to figure out how to manufacture an artist. It cannot write the song only you could write. It cannot stand onstage and make a room believe you. While being yourself won't always get you to the front of the pack — it damn sure gives you a chance to make something that outlasts the machine. So take a number. Get in line. And bring us something onlyyoucould have made. Long Live Rock n Roll, Lucas Leave a comment Subscribe now