On social media, opinions can seem black and white. When platforms amplify extreme reactions, whether praise or criticism, those who fall between these two poles sometimes question their own opinions. This phenomenon exposes many up-and-coming music artists to extremely negative feedback. 

Benson Boone is a key example of an artist who has faced significant criticism from people on social media. The extreme hate he receives online for his music and lyrics is disproportionate to his talent and success. While his songwriting and production are still developing, Boone’s vocal range and popularity disprove critics’ harsh judgments.

Benson Boone made his singing debut as a contestant on the 19th season of “American Idol,” but withdrew halfway through the competition to pursue a music career independently. After his withdrawal, he started posting singing videos on TikTok, which gained significant attention and subjected him to accusations of being an “industry plant” – someone whose rise to fame came from artificial hype or nepotism. 

Regardless of how he rose to fame, one of the main reasons for Boone’s continued success is his vocal talent. He exhibits a powerful three-octave range, greater than most male singers. His most successful song, “Beautiful Things,” exemplifies his power and range, more so than his other highly streamed songs like “In the Stars” or “Ghost Town.” With over two billion streams of “Beautiful Things” alone, this song shows that Boone’s popularity stems from real talent rather than internet hype. 

Boone’s music leans more mainstream since he typically releases pop ballads. Critics and the general population often label this style as unoriginal or formulaic, but it’s one of the most popular and successful styles in music. Many artists like Shawn Mendes, Dean Lewis and Lewis Capaldi faced similar responses early on in their music careers. 

However, there’s one thing that these artists have in common: their music continues to top the charts. 

Despite the claims that Benson Boone’s music is calculated and cookie-cutter, his success so early on in his career proves that his music resonates with listeners. Furthermore, he has repeatedly sold out concerts and has a growing audience, indicating that listeners think of his work in a more positive light than what people on the internet might say. 

More recently, Boone has faced harsh criticism for his album “American Heart,” which is understandable given its weak lyrics and messy production. This is a result of the album being completed in 17 days. Though Boone once again exhibits his vocals, it is overshadowed by the basic lyrics and disconnected production. He often relies on the styles of other successful artists, such as Freddie Mercury, rather than creating a distinct sound. Though he might be an entertaining performer and a strong vocalist, Boone needs to take the time to produce an album with deeper lyrics in order to stay relevant and prove that he’s not just an industry plant with shallow lyrics and mediocre production. 

Though social media often amplifies negativity, especially when it pertains to artists and their music, Benson Boone’s commercial success, vocal ability and knack for entertaining exemplify his talent and discredit those who claim he is undeserving of his success. His growing fan base does not align with comments stating that he is objectively disliked or talentless. It’s reasonable to be critical of artists, but the extreme hatred that internet users project onto Benson Boone is exaggerated and an invalid assessment of his true talent and success.