First, I want to start off by defining what being an industry plant really means. Some of you must be going "what's an industry plant?".
It's definitely a new concept although I had been using it far earlier than before people even had an idea about it. Unless you come from a privileged background or don't really think much about the media you consume or both it might not have been something you really thought about. Yet, the reality is it's an issue that has plagued the Entertainment industry for as long as the industry has existed.
The whole concept of industry plants has its roots in nepotism. I am sure that is a term some of you might know. Or nepo baby. Essentially, privileged kids or people. Nepotism is the concept of coming from family wealth and invariably from connections. Family wealth and connections often having a link.
The concept of nepotism and the nepo baby has grown a lot during the last few years as some have developed critical thinking skills, finally, and have come to realize that many wealthy and famous people are products of this system. Hollywood has had its share of controversy as more and more stars are discovered to come from wealthy family backgrounds. An example: Nicola Peltz while I love her acting and I am a fan I think she is definitely such an example. She essentially came from nowhere and started to land roles left and right in Hollywood.
But what does that have to do with an industry plant? Well, industry plants often rise out of nowhere and start taking the world by storm. Overnight they start getting huge opportunities that others could only dream off. Next thing you know they are everywhere.
I want to clear that the Entertainment industry both the movie/TV industry and the music industry primarily consists of people who came from family wealth and as a result have connections to land roles or to get signed to a record label. This is true if it is in the US, Mexico, or Japan. No matter the country. Given that is the case to qualify to be an industry plant it has to be more than that.
See, the reason it has to be more than that is simple. Wealth and privilege gives people a huge advantage over others which is why many of the world's stars come from upper-class or wealthier statuses but than in itself is not the deciding factor when overall that is pretty equal across the board for those who participate in the Entertainment industry so rather to qualify to be an industry plant it has to be an explosive, inorganic rise that is the real deciding factor.
See, most people don't realize the Entertainment industry is a business they often want a big star. For someone to be an industry plant the industry has to be fully behind you in wanting to make you the biggest thing and if that is the case and they are pushing you aggressively but it is driven entirely or mostly from the industry's side, their hype. That is not organic.
The music industry hypes up stars in the hopes that while it might not be organic today it might catch on. If it catches on then the momentum will be like a flame finally catching fire but it doesn't change the fact that it is manufactured.
You know when someone or something is an industry plant when it catches on quickly overnight. As in I mean if they came out of thin air and don't have many years behind them.
The general public has seen Sleep Token blow up in 2025 with their Even in Arcadia album and just assumes Sleep Token came out of nowhere.
But let me tell you something: the band has been around since 2016. That's right, 2016. They certainly did not skyrocket overnight to the level of fame they are at now just like that. It took years. It literally took a decade.
I am sure people who became aware of Sleep Token only recently might even think Sleep Token's Caramel or most of the songs off Even in Arcadia (album) represent Sleep Token when that is probably their most mainstream album and not a good representation of their vision, to be honest. Rather albums like This Place Will become Your Tomb, Take Me Back to Eden, and Sundowning are.
It's important for the public to do their own research and look beyond the headlines since for a band or any star there is a lot happening behind-the-scenes to get them to where they are.
