The Spectacular Downfall Of Meghan Trainor

“All About That Bass” was released in June of 2014 and it propelled Meghan Trainor into a mainstream career, securing her at the #1 spot of the Billboard charts for eight consecutive weeks. It was known for its catchy lyrics, while blending modern pop production with a vintage doo-wop sound inspired by the 1950s and 1960s. Its playful bass line, upbeat melody, and cheeky lyrics (“because you know I’m all about that bass, no treble”) gave it a fresh and memorable identity that listeners instantly connected with.

One of the biggest reasons for the song’s success was its message. At a time when conversations around body image and unrealistic beauty standards were becoming more mainstream and body positivity was arguably at its peak, “All About That Bass” was meant to be all about confidence and self-acceptance. Meghan embraced her natural figure and even referred to thinner women as “skinny bitches.” In retrospect, it’s easy to point out all the annoying elements of the song, its lyrics, its music video, etc. But when you were living in that 2014 moment, it just worked. There was something about the song, and Meghan, that landed and captivated audiences everywhere. 

The success of “All About That Bass” didn’t just dominate radio and streaming platforms. It also translated into major touring success for Meghan during the mid-2010s. Following the explosive popularity of the song, demand for live performances skyrocketed almost immediately, helping establish Meghan as a legitimate touring pop act rather than simply a one-hit viral sensation. She spent much of 2015 performing at award shows, festivals, and radio-sponsored concerts, and doing television appearances across the United States and internationally. Her live performances consistently drew large crowds, especially among younger female audiences and families who connected with her upbeat, confident image and catchy music.

Then she launched her first headlining concert tour called That Bass Tour. Many dates sold out quickly after tickets went on sale, particularly in major cities across North America. The tour included dozens of performances in theaters and mid-sized arenas, with venues often ranging from approximately 2,000 to over 7,000 seats, depending on the market. Several cities reported rapid sellouts, leading to additional dates being added in certain locations due to overwhelming demand. Fans packed venues across cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, and more.

So how on earth did we end up here? It’s 2026 and Meghan had to cancel her tour; she claims it’s because she wanted to spend more time with her three children, but anyone with a pulse and half a brain knows how silly that sounds. Why even plan a tour in the first place if you were concerned about not spending enough time with your family? We can only speculate, but it’s pretty obvious that the tickets simply were not selling and she couldn’t fill up the arenas like she used to. Whatever is happening, it’s clear that her rebrand isn’t landing. 

The Failed Rebrand

“Who is her target audience?” is a popular comment I've read many times on Meghan’s TikTok page, particularly under videos where she's dancing to her new music. This question, asked earnestly, seems to come from both millennials and Gen Z. Meghan used to lean into a retro-pop identity with pastel visuals and vintage-inspired fashion, and in her early days it almost felt like she wasn’t taking herself very seriously. There was something charming about that. With the launch of her newer material, though, Meghan has embraced high-glam visuals, sleek beauty styling, and a more hyper-feminine presentation.

Her recent photoshoots, music videos, and performances feature metallics, corsets, sparkles, dramatic makeup, and polished “internet-era pop star” visuals that feel heavily influenced by modern social media culture. And the lingerie. So much lingerie. Almost every one of her TikToks as of late features both herself and her dancers wearing skimpy lingerie that, quite frankly, doesn’t even look that good. It’s like they’re trying to blend Barbie-inspired glamour with TikTok-era femininity and confident “hot mom” energy. But there’s something about it that just does not work. The set is gaudy and cheap-looking, and it feels like Meghan is trying to set a new dance trend on TikTok, particularly with her song “Shimmer.” She keeps posting a snippet of the same dance routine, with some backup dancers behind her, almost like she's begging her TikTok audience to copy the dance moves and make it go viral. But it feels so manufactured and forced. She’s trying to make fetch happen, and it’s just not going to happen. 

To add fuel to the fire, critics continue to point out that “Shimmer” sounds very similar to Tate McRae’s hit single “Just Keep Watching.” Admittedly, the beats and the vocals do sound alike. And when they’re not comparing Meghan to Tate, they’re comparing Meghan to Sabrina Carpenter, wondering aloud why on earth Meghan has tried to suddenly copy Sabrina’s hyper-feminine, over-sexualized look. Or, in other words, "why is Meghan trying so hard to reheat Sabrina’s nachos?" This is the burning question that shows up in Meghan’s comment section every day, relentlessly. It may seem harsh at first, but the more I watched Meghan’s videos, the more I found myself asking the same question. It’s almost as if the new Meghan was created by AI; like ChatGPT was asked to create a pop star similar to Sabrina Carpenter and Tate McRae, and this is what it spit out. 

Authenticity Is the New Currency 

Consumers are sharper than ever and they don’t like to be lied to. Renowned investor and social media expert, Gary Vee, has been shouting from the rooftops that the influencer era as we know it is dead. People do not want to be preached at by out-of-touch influencers who live in their mansions and hire personal shoppers. They also don’t resonate with the overly curated, perfectly aesthetic content anymore, either. That’s why the GRWM videos have exploded in popularity in recent years, and why TikTokers like Emilie Kiser get millions of views on simple videos in which they’re cleaning their house in sweatpants and a bare face. Audiences who scroll through their feed want to see something that is real and relatable, if not funny and inspiring. 

That’s why Meghan is no longer connecting with anyone anymore. Everything about her new look and music feels fake (or worse, cringe, and not in a good way). Even her newfound skinniness feels fake. These days, you can buy skinny by using a GLP-1, but a perceptive eye can immediately tell the difference between medicated skinny and naturally (or earned) skinny. For example, Hilary Duff, beloved popstar and always across multiple generations, has clearly built her body. She's strong and healthy, and you can tell her figure wasn’t made by Ozempic. But everything on Meghan, from her wardrobe to her cosmetic work, feels inauthentic. Does she even have a hand in the creative direction of her music and career? Or is she simply being swept away by a team that is hell-bent on staying relevant at any cost? Regardless of what the answer is, the new Meghan that we're seeing today is not selling tickets. And it may stay this way unless she decides to take some drastic measures.