Katy Perry’s Career at a Crossroads: Vegas Struggles, Album Woes, and the Decline of Woke Pop

Katy Perry, once the undisputed queen of pop with a string of chart-topping hits, is facing a turbulent chapter in her career. Reports suggest she’s been “fired” from her Las Vegas residency, her latest album 143 has flopped, and her brand of “woke pop” is losing relevance in a rapidly shifting music industry. The narrative paints a stark picture: a pop icon struggling to reclaim her throne. But what led to this moment, and is Perry truly “cooked,” as some claim? This article explores the factors behind her recent setbacks and what they reveal about her career and the broader pop landscape.

The Las Vegas Residency: A High-Stakes Gamble

Katy Perry’s Las Vegas residency, titled PLAY, launched in December 2021 at Resorts World, a luxury hotel and casino. The show was a spectacle, featuring whimsical props like giant toilets and talking surgical masks, embodying Perry’s signature campy aesthetic. With a setlist packed with hits like Teenage Dream, Firework, and Roar, the residency aimed to capitalize on her nostalgia appeal while offering fans a larger-than-life experience. Perry was reportedly paid between $750,000 and $900,000 per show, a figure inflated by a bidding war between Resorts World and Caesars Palace.

However, the residency has been labeled a financial disappointment. Sources indicate that Resorts World lost money on the venture, as ticket sales underperformed expectations. The high production costs and Perry’s hefty per-show fee likely contributed to the shortfall. Unlike residencies by artists like Adele or Celine Dion, which consistently drew massive crowds, Perry’s show struggled to maintain momentum over its run, which spanned short stints through 2022 and 2023. The decision not to invite Perry back for another residency underscores the perception that PLAY was a misstep.

Several factors may explain the residency’s struggles. First, Perry’s core fanbase, while loyal, may not align with the high-spending demographic that frequents Las Vegas shows. Her whimsical, cartoonish stage design, while true to her brand, might have felt out of place in a market favoring more sophisticated or timeless performances. Additionally, the timing of the residency overlapped with a period of declining commercial success for Perry, potentially dampening public interest. The narrative of her being “fired” may be an exaggeration, but the lack of a renewed contract speaks volumes about the show’s reception.

The Flop of 143: A Comeback Derailed

Perry’s seventh studio album, 143, released in September 2024, was billed as a triumphant return to her pop roots. The album’s title, inspired by Perry’s belief in the number as her “angel number,” promised a “sexy, fearless” collection of empowering anthems. Yet, the album has been met with critical and commercial disappointment, fueling claims that it “flopped.”

The lead single, Woman’s World, released in July 2024, was intended to be a feminist anthem celebrating female empowerment. However, it debuted at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 47 in the UK, lackluster results for an artist with Perry’s track record. The follow-up single, Lifetimes, fared even worse, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100. Streaming numbers were modest, with Woman’s World reaching only number 110 on Spotify’s U.S. chart. Critically, the album received scathing reviews, with some calling it the lowest-rated album on review aggregation sites in over a decade. Descriptions of 143 as “boring” and “cold” highlighted its lack of the playful, infectious energy that defined Perry’s earlier work.

Several missteps contributed to 143’s poor reception. The decision to collaborate with producer Dr. Luke, who faced high-profile allegations of abuse from Kesha (settled out of court), sparked immediate backlash. Fans and critics questioned the authenticity of a feminist anthem co-produced by someone with a controversial past, undermining the song’s message. The lyrics of Woman’s World, with lines like “She’s a winner, champion, superhuman, number one,” were criticized as simplistic and outdated, evoking a “girlboss” feminism that felt out of touch in 2024. The accompanying music video, which Perry later claimed was satirical, confused viewers with its mix of empowerment imagery and perceived pandering to the male gaze.

Beyond the lead single, 143 struggled to resonate in a competitive pop landscape. Artists like Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Billie Eilish have dominated 2024 with music that embraces raw authenticity, complex emotions, and genre experimentation. Perry’s attempt to recapture her Teenage Dream-era magic, with formulaic dance-pop and broad appeals to empowerment, felt misaligned with current trends. The album’s production, while polished, lacked the innovative hooks that once made her songs inescapable.

Woke Pop and Perry’s Missteps

The claim that “woke pop is dead” ties into Perry’s broader career narrative. Her 2017 album Witness marked a pivot toward what she called “purposeful pop,” addressing social and political themes. The lead single, Chained to the Rhythm, critiqued societal apathy, but subsequent singles like Bon Appétit and Swish Swish reverted to lighter, less political themes, leaving fans confused about her direction. The Witness era was marred by public missteps, including a widely criticized Saturday Night Live performance and comments perceived as insensitive, further damaging her image.

143’s Woman’s World attempted to revive this socially conscious approach, but its execution fell flat. The song’s generic empowerment message failed to capture the nuanced, introspective tone that defines much of contemporary pop. Today’s audiences, shaped by cultural shifts and a post-#MeToo awareness, demand authenticity and specificity. Perry’s broad, slogan-like lyrics and questionable production choices alienated listeners who might have otherwise embraced her comeback.

The broader notion that “woke pop” is dead may reflect a cultural fatigue with performative activism in music. Artists like Chappell Roan and Charli XCX succeed by blending camp, vulnerability, and cultural commentary in ways that feel organic. Perry’s attempts at social commentary, by contrast, have often felt calculated or out of step, contributing to the perception that her brand of pop is losing relevance.

Is Katy Perry “Cooked”?

The narrative that Perry is “cooked” stems from her string of commercial and critical failures since Witness. Her 2020 album Smile sold only 67,000 units in the U.S., a stark contrast to Teenage Dream’s 3.1 million. Her Las Vegas residency and 143 have only deepened the perception of decline. Social media sentiment, particularly on platforms like X, reflects a mix of schadenfreude and disappointment, with some fans lamenting her choices while others declare her career over.

Yet, writing Perry off entirely may be premature. At 40, she remains a household name with a catalog of hits that continue to resonate. Her 2015 Super Bowl halftime performance, featuring the iconic “Left Shark,” cemented her as a pop culture phenomenon. Her recent MTV Video Vanguard Award for lifetime achievement signals that the industry still recognizes her impact. Moreover, Perry’s personal wealth—estimated at $500 million after selling part of her music rights for $225 million—affords her the resources to pivot or reinvent herself.

The challenges Perry faces are not unique. Pop stars like Pink and Jennifer Lopez have also navigated career slumps, with varying degrees of recovery. Perry’s peers, such as Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga, have thrived by adapting to cultural shifts—Swift with introspective folk-pop and Gaga with genre-spanning artistry. Perry, however, has leaned heavily on nostalgia, attempting to recreate the bubblegum pop formula that defined her early success. This approach, while safe, has proven limiting in a market that rewards innovation.

The Road Ahead

To reclaim her relevance, Perry may need to take bold risks. One option is to follow the path of artists like Carly Rae Jepsen, who transitioned from mainstream pop to a cult following by embracing creative freedom over chart success. A more experimental album, perhaps exploring personal themes like motherhood or her relationship with Orlando Bloom, could resonate with listeners seeking authenticity. Alternatively, Perry could lean into her campy persona as a touring act, focusing on legacy performances of her hits rather than chasing new chart-toppers.

The pop landscape is cyclical, and Perry’s style of vibrant, escapist pop could find renewed appeal in the future. The success of the Spice Girls in the late 1990s, reviving pop after a grunge-dominated era, suggests that genres ebb and flow. For now, Perry’s immediate challenge is rebuilding trust with fans alienated by 143’s missteps. Her ongoing Lifetimes world tour, despite reports of unsold tickets, offers a chance to reconnect with audiences through live performances.

Conclusion

Katy Perry’s recent struggles—her Las Vegas residency’s financial woes, 143’s flop, and the backlash against her “woke pop” efforts—reflect a confluence of poor timing, questionable creative choices, and a shifting cultural landscape. While her career is at a low point, her resilience and pop culture legacy suggest she’s far from “cooked.” The question is whether Perry can adapt to a music industry that demands authenticity and innovation, or if she’ll remain tethered to a formula that no longer resonates. For now, her journey serves as a cautionary tale of how even the biggest stars must evolve to stay relevant.