Grammy without a major label. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Anybody know how?

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Having now heard it, I'm struggling to have much of an opinion either way. I can see why the yoof like it. Not sure I'm their target demographic...

Yeah, it stood out to me the first time I ever heard it. I think it's really pretty good for what it is...clever lyrics. Normally I detest any song that my daughter or wife bring to my attention.

Wiki seems to indicate that these doods have been at it for a long time...touring, EPs, mixtapes....

Looks like they first broke out on iTunes...not sure how that happens and it doesn't answer the OP's specific question, but clearly they didn't come out of nowhere and just get lucky with topical subject matter.
 
Man, I've never heard this song or these guys before. I was going to say they mustn't have really broken over here, but looking at wikipedia that Thrift Shop was apparently a UK number one too. I thought it was just wall to wall Get Lucky or Blurred Lines last summer.

Having now heard it, I'm struggling to have much of an opinion either way. I can see why the yoof like it. Not sure I'm their target demographic...

Yeah, it's not for us. They came to the school where I take classes last Spring and played in the gymnasium, like something out of a Brady Bunch episode . I got a kick out of that, reminded me of when electro dance divas do those tours of shopping malls. Take it to your people, I guess. I'd rather tour the prisons and nuthouses personally.
 
yes, they are now. I want to know the story about how they achieved orbit.

I think *IF* you can....
1.) Come up with a catchy image, 2.) Have some extended regional live touring & following 3.) Blow up big on You Tube with some "viral" shit that targets the 14-21 crowd 4.) Sell it all to someone who can then take it more nationally for you....

....after that, it's easy to get Billboard attention and even show up at the Grammy Awards.

You notice that I didn't mention anything about writting terrific songs and recording them with million dollar productions...it just has to be slick and catchy and target the very young....and it can be totally forgotten in 6 months...as long as it's an attention getter when you need it. I mean...we're not talking about some "timeless" song/music that will hold value for 50 years.


If there's anyone under 25 reading this, I guarantee they're pissing themselves with laughter.

I'm sure. :D
 
The old cynic in me wants to believe they kissed the right ass or there was some shady back room deal, but in reality it was probably just plain old hard work...touring, promotion, networking- things of that nature.


I'm sure there was plenty of that. (the hard work, etc.). I was just interested in the mechanics of getting billboard to recognize your sales numbers when you have no label.

I read Robert Rodriquez's book "Rebel without a crew" about his first film and how he made it, financed it, chopped it, and marketed it. It was pretty good read, but it detailed how he went from film student with an idea, and a summer to kill, to insider-player. (I highly recommend watching the director's commentary track of El Mariachi if you are interested in making a low budget film). The mechanics are all there, not that anybody could recreate them, but its still interesting to read about. I guess I'll have to wait for the book. :D
 
I think

*IF* you can....
1.) Come up with a catchy image,
Nobody wants to look at my fat ass. :D

2.) Have some extended regional live touring & following
I'm strictly a studio guy.

3.) Blow up big on You Tube with some "viral" shit that targets the 14-21 crowd
Blow up, probably but in a difference context. :D
Not with the under 50 crowd, I just don't see that happening.. :p


4.) Sell it all to someone who can then take it more nationally for you....
Sell it? who said anything about selling?? :D
 
The secret to getti g airplay is simply hiring a marketing company to get your stuff on the air. All it takes is money. If you can grt airplay and other promotion, you can possiblystart selling, then it just snowballs from there.
 
Personally, I think Greg's song,Gay Boy should have won!
 
Sell it? who said anything about selling?? :D

I meant....sell it as in convince someone with enough clout & money to push it further for you.....same as what Fairview said.

Any notion that they sold a few thousand CDs at local gigs.....and from that got national/Billboard/Grammy Award attention....just ain't so.
 
Not only is Greg's song more sensitive, he also has his hand on America's pulse...and a knife at her throat! LOL! Seriously, I was just now playing keys as I listened to it(Gay Boy), and it's a fun song to play along with. And isn't that the point?!
 
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Not only is Greg's song more sensitive, he also has his hand on America's pulse...and a knife at her throat! LOL! Seriously, I was just now playing keys as I listened to it(Gay Boy), and it's a fun song to play along with. And isn't that the point?!

It is quite literally the greatest song ever written.
 
I won a grammy for best new poster on home recording forum. It's an honor to be recognized for my vast array of knowledge, but I ask, "am I worthy of such an honor" I usually respond saying, why yes, I am :guitar:
 
:D
I won a grammy for best new poster on home recording forum. It's an honor to be recognized for my vast array of knowledge, but I ask, "am I worthy of such an honor" I usually respond saying, why yes, I am :guitar:

I want to know your life story.. :D
 
It's pretty simple:

Start HR account and troll.
Get banned.
Start another HR account and troll.
Get banned.
Rinse and repeat.

Wasted two minutes of my life trying to educate you, it hasnt worked in the past why would it work now
 
See? This is what he does.

because this is what HE DOES. Im not legitimate, Ive proven my arguments over and over again, all Greg C has to offer is , "I dont care"

Fine dont care then, why bother telling us you dont care
 
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