Look, I don't want to break your hearts and I hope I'm wrong, but Oliver Anthony's rise doesn't feel organic.
Rich Men North of Richmond is still fire, and this doesn't take away from the song's message, but Oliver Anthony might be an industry plant.
To clarify, I'm using this definition of industry plant: an artist with a record deal, supported by a label, who pretends to be independent to gather grassroots support.
And let's face it, Oliver Anthony's story is too good to be true. It felt organic at the beginning, but on 999 cases out of 1000, a label with deep pockets has to be working a song for it to gather this kind of traction. They control all the media. This kind of thing doesn't happen to random people, no matter how talented.
Rich Men North of Richmond is everywhere-everywhere, and that's more than suspicious. I'm sorry to say it, but the powers that be might've gotten us on this one.
And I know that the guy said that he rejected an 8 million dollar deal, but that's exactly what an industry plant pretending to be one of us would say.
I hope I'm wrong, but if I'm not, the guy will announce a record deal sooner than later. That's the last step in the industry plant playbook.
29 sats \ 1 reply \ @OC 23 Aug 2023
I hope you're wrong, I love that song and the message. I do however like your critical thinking and willingness to ask potentially uncomfortable questions of the narrative presented to you.
reply
I also hope that I'm wrong. Thanks for the second part of the message, fellow Stacker.
reply
In this world truth is becoming harder and harder to verify. He could be a plant or he could be 100% authentic. Either way the song is powerful and it’s a message that all walks of life can relate to.
reply
I love that fucking song.
reply
Yep. Astroturfed.
reply
That sounds like the kind of thing that has to happen for a song to blow up like this one did.
Sad but true.
And the whistleblower says "Oliver Anthony seems like a genuinely great guy," which is true.
But the man is an industry plant and the success wasn't organic.
It's as simple as that.
reply
LOL. Seriously? The problem with this take isn't that it is false. The problem is that its missing the point. Of course right wingers are gonna try to latch on to this song. That doesn't mean it isn't authentic. The question is, is anything authentic online? How do we even know? These "conservatives" that vote for the men this song talks about are kidding themselves. Conservatives are just progressives going the speed limit.
reply
Definitely agree with your last sentence.
This guy is already out there pushing the diversity agenda. it’s clear he’s controlled opposition selected and promoted artificially.
reply
The point isn't the song or the guy. The point is the message it is sending and how it is resonating with people. We have this bad habit of focusing on people and things instead of ideas and ideals.
Another thing here, look for more like this going forward. There will be copy cats. Is that bad? Nah. This guy's success will make others feel safe sending stronger messages. This song isn't about one guy or his song. I think its bigger than that. Even if it is a plant.
reply
I'm just pointing out that the success wasn't organic.
I still love the song.
I don't mind industry plants when the music is good, which doesn't happen often.
reply
I think you are wrong. I don't think what you are saying is impossible but it seems far less likely. Let's look at this from the incentive side of things.
Now what is very likely is that with the recent success of "Try that in a small down" this song is getting more traction and promotion from the industry. Money is the goal of most in media and music. Everyone is trying to co-op this guy and his song. That isn't just "the media". Its conservative pendants, republicans, and others. I try to tune out these groups. It is rich hearing these groups get behind this song like they aren't the people the song talks about. The system is built to put everything in terms of party politics and that is what I'm seeing happen here.
Where you might be right is that folks are using this guy and his song to their own ends. People make the mistake of thinking the media and politicians are strictly ideological. They aren't. Some in the media are but they follow trends and when they get push back they pull back.
I find it very hard to believe that this guy is a media creation. They aren't that good. What they do and might have done is push something up that was organic in the beginning.
reply
I think they are that good, and they got us this time. But it's just my opinion, I don't have inside information.
It's practically impossible to prove anything, but my guess is that Oliver Anthony's actions will tell us everything we need to know.
reply