Lily Allen Says Music Industry Struggles to Market Older Women

Singer Lily Allen, 41, asserts that the music industry fails to adequately market women of a certain age, expressing a desire to continue exploring “real things” in her music. Allen criticized the industry as “scared” of supporting women discussing subjects like perimenopause and everyday life challenges.

In an interview with The Times Magazine, Allen stated, “The music industry doesn’t know how to market women of a certain age, myself included.” She questioned whether audiences are interested in hearing about experiences such as perimenopause and the school run, noting that the industry hesitates to explore these themes due to a perceived lack of market evidence. “We’re scared of going there because there’s not much evidence there’s a market for it. But there probably is,” she added.

Allen also shared that her recent music has resonated significantly with women in her age group, finding hope in the success of songs that address relatable experiences. “It gives me hope that talking about real things works,” she said.

This discussion follows comments made by Allen’s ex-husband, David Harbour, regarding her album "West End Girl," which details their marriage breakdown. Harbour, 51, stated that while he respected Allen's artistic freedom, he felt his own experience of their relationship differed from her portrayal.

Allen responded to Harbour's remarks in an interview with The Cut, calling his comments “generous” and acknowledging his current acting success. "He's having a real moment of success as well, right? He's been nominated for an Emmy, and it's great. We're all doing our own thing, and we're all doing what we're supposed to do," she commented.

Harbour had previously expressed his views to Variety in June, describing the album as “weird.” He emphasized his respect for artists using personal experiences but maintained that the narrative in "West End Girl" did not align with his own perspective on their private life.

The 14-track album "West End Girl," written in ten days last December, is described by Allen as a blend of fact and fiction. One notable song, "Madeline," accuses Harbour of a three-year affair with a costume designer and touches on the nature of their relationship, including an apparent open arrangement regarding sex under specific conditions. Another song, "Tennis," uses the sport as a metaphor for sexual encounters, questioning jealousy and fidelity.

Allen and Harbour met on the dating app Raya and married in Las Vegas in 2020. They legally separated in early 2025 after four years of marriage, with divorce proceedings following soon after. Prior to her marriage to Harbour, Allen was married to Sam Cooper from 2011 until their divorce in 2018.