Billie Eilish says phones okay at gigs

Billie Eilish used promotion for her new concert film to take a clear position in one of live music’s most persistent arguments: whether fans should be filming at shows. In comments published Friday by MusicRadar and drawn from an interview with NME, Eilish said she does not mind phones at gigs and described recording concerts as normal for her generation. She linked that habit to the internet culture that helped build her audience. The remarks arrived as Eilish promotes “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D),” her concert movie co-directed with James Cameron and released in cinemas on May 8. ### What exactly did Billie Eilish say about phones at concerts? MusicRadar on May 16 highlighted Eilish’s defense of concert phone use in a report based on her NME interview. Eilish said, “My generation, and the generations below, we love to film stuff,” and added that she used to record “every single minute” of concerts and festivals she attended. (musicradar.com) NME on May 8 quoted Eilish saying phones are “an important part of the culture” and that online sharing “keeps us connected.” She also said she would not have “a career” or “fans” without the internet, while acknowledging there are “huge cons” and a “dark” side to social media. ### Was she responding to criticism of her own audiences? (musicradar.com) NME framed Eilish’s comments as a defense of fans who have been criticized for filming extensively during her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour. The outlet said the issue had also surfaced after viral footage from Coachella drew complaints online about audiences appearing more focused on recording than dancing. (nme.com) MusicRadar placed Eilish in the opposite camp from artists who have imposed phone restrictions at shows. Its report cited Bob Dylan, Jack White, Mitski and Ghost as performers who have banned or limited smartphones at concerts, while also noting Damon Albarn’s 2024 BBC comments against bans. (nme.com) ### Why is she talking about this now? Eilish made the remarks while promoting “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D),” a concert film co-directed with Cameron. Fandango’s film page says the movie opened in theaters on May 8, 2026, and describes it as a 3D presentation captured during her sold-out world tour. The Associated Press reported that the project began after Cameron contacted Eilish’s mother, Maggie Baird, with the idea of filming the tour in 3D. (musicradar.com) NME said the film marks Eilish’s debut directing a full-length feature, with Cameron listed as co-director. ### How does the film connect to the phone debate? NME said the concert film itself shows a crowd that is both filming and actively participating. (fandango.com) The outlet wrote that many of the mostly young attendees can be seen jumping and recording at the same time, matching Eilish’s argument that phone use does not automatically mean disengagement. (apnews.com) Mashable’s review, published May 14, described the movie as more than a fan-service spectacle and said the 3D format helped convey the experience of being inside Eilish’s performance world. That review focused on the film’s immersive presentation rather than on audience etiquette, but it underscored the promotional push around the release week. (nme.com) ### What else has happened around the release? LBBOnline reported on May 15 that Instagram and agency Grow staged a “Close Fans Only” happy hour ahead of the film’s premiere. The event brought together fans, creators and media guests, and attendees later watched the premiere from a dedicated Instagram creator row before what LBBOnline described as a surprise greeting from Eilish. (me.mashable.com) The official film site says “Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)” is now in cinemas through Paramount Pictures. MusicRadar also reported that Eilish said she is working on new music, saying she and her team are “deep in album mode.” (billieeilishmovie.co.uk) (lbbonline.com)