Stella Lefty is having a moment. But what happens when the people making music don’t all start from the same place?

Stella Lefty’s rise to fame with Boston has become a lightning rod for arguments about nepotism, authenticity and the modern music industry. Her billionaire father has made her an obvious target for the “nepo baby” label, while controversy surrounding Boston and its similarity to Noah Kahan’s Stick Season has only added fuel to the conversation.

But the real question is bigger than Stella.

What does it actually mean to earn success when we don’t all begin with the same opportunities?

In this episode of The Last Mixed Tape, we look at the class ceiling in music, the inherited advantages that come with wealth, and why “starting from zero” is often a myth. We also look at the gendered suspicion surrounding accusations of “nepo baby” and “industry plant”, and why successful young women can find themselves treated as fraudulent simply for becoming successful.

Music has a nepo baby problem. But it’s because society has a class problem.