Cyndi Lauper has blasted “greedy and shortsighted” executives for their impact on music.
The Girls Just Wanna Have Fun hitmaker has accused shareholders of squeezing people “dry”, and damaging the idea of creativity by trying to replicate natural success when a song or album catches fire.
She told Billboard magazine: “The shareholders are not any of the creatives. If you squeeze people dry, you wreck it.
“When Michael [Jackson] sold 35 million copies [of Thriller] they didn’t view it as a phenomenon. They brought a chart in and said, ‘Well, next year…’ What?!
“You’re not making a car. It happened; it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen every year. Grow up and don’t be so greedy and shortsighted.”
The 73-year-old singer insisted billionaires and corporations have impacted the creative hub in Manhattan too.
She argued: “When things become too expensive, you don’t have those young neighbourhoods anymore in your city.
“What happens is the city becomes dull. This used to be the city that never slept. Not anymore, pallie.
“This island that was so fantastic has become Work Island and that’s sad. I remember when Greenwich Village wasn’t just a college dorm.”
Earlier this year, Cyndi fiercely shut down a heckler on the opening night of her Cyndi Lauper: Live in Las Vegas residency.
She took to the stage at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in April, when her introduction to Sally’s Pigeons was interrupted.
She ranted: “I don’t know what the f*** you’re saying, hon.”
She went on: “But please remember where you are, OK?
“Because if you’re trying to shade me, b****, I’m gonna come for you.
“I’m from Brooklyn, and if I wanna f****** talk, I will do a tap dance if I f****** want. Sorry, that of course is not part of my people skills.”
In 2025, 80s icon Cyndi was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
She said in her acceptance speech: “The little kid in me still believes that rock and roll can save the world.
“I just want to say now of all time, let’s come together again and do good in the world because it needs us.”