Singer Becky Hill has responded to criticism and booing from fans at the TRNSMT festival, where she performed a set consisting entirely of new, unreleased music.
Hill, who was a secret act at the Glasgow festival last Friday, stated in a TikTok video that she intended to use the opportunity to showcase the new material she has been developing. She explained that transitioning to new music is a critical part of an artist's career progression and that she is not a "jukebox."
"I wanted to bring a new and exclusive 30-minute set of brand new music to a festival," Hill said. "I thought it would be a great opportunity to play the new music I've been working so hard on." She expressed gratitude to the festival organizers and to the audience members who stayed and engaged with her performance.
However, many festivalgoers left her set and booed when she announced she would not be playing her well-known hits, such as "Powerless," "My Heart Goes (La Di Da)," and "Crazy What Love Can Do." Some attendees had reportedly waited for hours in the rain for her performance.
"I spoke on stage about how difficult it is to transition to a new single and new music and new albums," Hill continued. "I'm not a jukebox, I'm an artist and tickets to TRNSMT weren't sold based on my name being part of the lineup." She added that while she values her popular songs, "in order to have a long career I need to have new music."
Clips of the incident went viral on TikTok, drawing commentary from users who criticized the decision. Many social media users argued that festival slots are typically for performing popular songs, with one user commenting, "Point of a festival is to play your biggest songs not new stuff."
Hill announced that her third studio album, "REBECCA," is set for release on September 25. The album follows her 2024 record "Believe Me Now?" and includes the singles "More! More! More!" and "Hands On Me."
Known for her fusion of underground club music with mainstream appeal, Hill has accumulated over 10 billion global streams and multiple UK Top 10 singles. Her previous album, "Believe Me Now?", reached the UK Top 3. She has collaborated with artists such as David Guetta, Tiësto, and Chase & Status. The upcoming album "REBECCA" is described as marking a new era focused on self-expression and creative ownership. Hill is also recognized for her live performances at major festivals and her advocacy for creatives in the music industry.