Lots of artists within the modern era of music have many songs that get thrown out, never to be seen by the public. With new releases from deceased artists, such as Mac Miller with his album “Balloonerism” and Juice WRLDs “The Party Never Ends 2.0,” this poses the question: is releasing artists music posthumous moral?
Musician Mac Miller recently had his album “Balloonerism” released on Jan. 17. This album was made all the way back in 2014, which means its been over a decade since its initial creation.
This is his second new album since his passing in 2018. The Mac Miller estate, made up of Miller’s friends and family, decided to release this album due to the importance they say Miller expressed about the album in his lifetime. “We believe the project showcases both the breadth of his musical talents and fearlessness as an artist,” his estate said in a statement put out last November.
On a similar note, Jarad Higgins, otherwise known as Juice WRLD, has had two albums released since his passing in 2019. His newest album, “The Party Never Ends,” had received praise from his fans and even had a collaboration with the game Fortnite. “When Jarad was a toddler, He developed a love for globes that lasted for years,” Carmela Wallace, Higgins mother stated. “He was fascinated with spinning them. He grew to become the artist Juice WRLD and touched people worldwide through his music. I hope that his music continues to have a positive impact on the lives of others around the world, and it is my prayer that people do not suffer in silence.”
I believe that in certain instances, releasing musicians’ discographies posthumously could be seen as a cash grab from record labels or estates. Juice WRLD’s estate got the fans involved by bringing in a voting system for “The Party Never Ends 2.0” to allow his fans to pick ten songs they wanted on the album. This makes me believe the releases were morally correct since they were decided by close friends and family and gave fans a voice.
After closely looking at the releases, I believe both estates released these albums in a way that was well received publicly and honored the musicians properly. I think bringing the fans into the deluxe release is a great way to send off Higgins’ final album and give his community closure. With this being Higgins last album, it’s a good way to leave his legacy. As for Mac Miller, no statement has been released saying “Balloonerism” will be his last album, though it is likely.
