Unveiling Oliver Anthony's Insights on the Music Industry
Oliver Anthony's Stand Against Nashville's Treatment of Artists
Oliver Anthony clearly expresses his discontent with how Nashville treats its artists. He emphasizes that labels often focus on creating a character around a certain individual and pushing them through the system. As he stated, "Find some guy that you can build a character around. Prop him up through your label. Give him a bunch of songs that some kids over at The Hick in Nashville wrote while they were wearing their Crocs and drinking White Claws and hitting golf balls." This shows his frustration with the lack of authenticity in the industry.He continues to explain that many of the songs being pushed have artists who don't truly understand or connect with the lyrics. It's all about creating a catchy sound that fits a certain model. Anthony believes that this rinse-and-repeat approach serves no real purpose other than being a business strategy. It's a system that he finds soul-crushing.
Anthony's Revelation about Label Marketing Strategies
Anthony reveals a disturbing aspect of the music industry - the artificial inflation of song success through marketing. He mentions that around the time "Rich Men North of Richmond" came out, there were other songs with millions of dollars invested in marketing that were pushed aside. Labels would spend large amounts of money to jump their songs up the charts, making it seem like they were more successful than they actually were.He said, "A lot of the music that goes on the charts, the companies actually buy their own song however many times. They'll spend a million dollars just to jump it up the charts a certain amount where people start to see it." This highlights the commercial nature of the industry and how it can sometimes overshadow the true talent and quality of the music.
The Impact of Money on the Music Industry
Anthony acknowledges that money is a significant factor in the music industry. He doesn't label it as evil but recognizes that it shapes the way things operate. He said, "These are all just systems. They're not inherently bad. It's not like there's a bunch of people sitting around who are evil thinking about how to trick you into making you listen to a certain kind of song."However, he also realizes the impact it has on artists and the music itself. When he goes to Nashville and talks to people, he sees how this new era of business-driven music is shaping the landscape. It's a reality that he finds both fascinating and concerning.