Lizzo’s fifth studio album stumbles on the charts: what the album’s debut says about her comeback

Lizzo’s fifth studio album, BITCH, has failed to debut in the Billboard 200 after its release on June 5, 2026. The album was only able to open at No. 46 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart, selling around 2,650 copies in its first week and dropping to around 650 copies in the second week.

Before BITCH, Lizzo was established to be one of pop's most commercially successful artists. Her breakthrough was led by the hit, "Truth Hurts," in 2019, which spent a historic seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Later on, Lizzo earned Grammy Awards for her song "About Damn Time" and released her fourth studio album, Special. Compared to Lizzo’s 2022 album, Special—which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2—the launch of BITCH marks an apparent contrast. Many people have pointed to several factors that may have contributed to the album’s underwhelming performance; some citing the ongoing legal disputes initiated by former members on Lizzo’s touring team, while others believe changes in the music industry have made it difficult for artists to re-achieve the same level of success as they have seen in previous years.

Lizzo has addressed the album’s performance on several social media platforms such as X, TikTok and the “Proto Pop” Podcast, stating that she believes her album’s disappointing performance was due to a combination of industry shifts, negative publicity, and a lack of support from her label. In a public statement posted on X, Lizzo wrote that streaming has largely replaced radio as the primary way listeners discover music and provide support for artists, giving her no advantage of being a “radio darling.” According to the singer, the executives at her label, Atlantic Records, approved advertising campaigns, but failed to execute them.

Furthermore, BITCH debuted after Lizzo had spent three years facing public scrutiny as a result of the lawsuits filed against her by several dancers present during her 2022 tour. The lawsuits alleged that Lizzo participated in workplace misconduct, though the singer has denied the claims and accusations. Many people believe this controversy negatively affected the public's perception of Lizzo, which was one of the factors that contributed to low interest in the new album.

The frustration ultimately culminated in Lizzo posting a video of herself physically taping promotional posters onto city walls, showcasing how she has to act as her own promotional team since her label refused to represent her. Lizzo has continued to promote BITCH through interviews, social media posts, and live appearances despite the disappointing analytics, leading to broader conversations that talk about artist promotion, fan loyalty, and the ever-evolving music industry.