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In fact, Lana Del Rey’s rise says much about the nature of modern fame in the US. The internet has allowed figures like her to come rapidly to the fore of the cultural landscape, whether or not their emergence is planned by a record executive or happens spontaneously from someone’s bedroom. It has speeded up the fame cycle. It is worth noting that the huge backlash to Del Rey is happening before her first album has even been released. This reveals a cultural obsession with the “authenticity” that fans, artists and corporations all prize above all else.

Cultural critics say genuine authenticity is almost impossible to achieve. “The whole idea of authenticity is elusive. It is in many ways a complete illusion,” said Professor Robert Thompson, a pop culture expert at Syracuse University.