Anybody know the lowdown on Macklemore's label situation, backing, etc?

[dubsmith_nz]

Like "Up In Here" said, they basically paid the record label for their services to distribute and market their singles, but are realistically still Independent. Smart move if you ask me.

 

[thernbroom]

who's the most successful indie artist of all time?

 

[Czerka]

Takes money to make money. People thinking it was all talent is fukking idiots. He played both sides of the game, artist and record company upstart. Imagine if Rick Rubin was also a rapper but instead of signing other artists to Def Jam he signed himself. That's basically what Macklemore did, he invested money into himself, got some live performance placements, got his song featured on an add for Miller beer, secured distribution through ADA who work with Warner Bros to provide clients with distribution and marketing through clients own investment as opposed to record company investment. Because this type of distribution is low risk for ADA/Warner they only get a portion and not a controlling interest of clients profits. Macklemore was marketed to pop and alternative radio, completely bypassing hip hop circuits. They hit with "thrift shop" and went from there.

That's basically it. No one is 100% independant unless they are selling directly to you from their car. A distribution deal like that offered by ADA is very common but it requires a substantial monetary investment from the artist. Most struggling independant artist don't have the funds to invest in a distribution deal like Macklemore. It was a big risk and it payed off. Like I said, it takes money to make money.

where did he get the money in the first place? family?

 

[RajWatts]

industry plant.

why you think he's in all them Microsoft commercials

 

[WEKetchum]

where did he get the money in the first place? family?

Dude was already selling out shows all over the place before that song really popped. I don't know if he had any other sources of income, but dude had a large amount of fans before this popped off, so he could have just ate off that and saved his money right.

 

[Tuc2DaBoot]

See.... a lot of artists are going to try and do what Macklemore did and fail miserably...

As Up in here already said, he basically funded himself instead of signing to a major to get the money. But that money DOES come from somewhere... distribution, radio play, and advertising at this level does not come cheap. Either he is sitting on 5-6 figures of investment money or someone behind him has 5-7 figure money to invest. Your average artist isn't going to have that. That's essentially the same deal with Mac Miller except he's actually on an indie label.

People get impressed with an artist being successful while remaining independent without realizing that you need TONS of money to make that happen. How many artists under 25 are going to be able to do that not named Mac Miller? Macklemore is 30, he had plenty of time to get that bread up.

 

[Rev]

See.... a lot of artists are going to try and do what Macklemore did and fail miserably...

As Up in here already said, he basically funded himself instead of signing to a major to get the money. But that money DOES come from somewhere... distribution, radio play, and advertising at this level does not come cheap. Either he is sitting on 5-6 figures of investment money or someone behind him has 5-7 figure money to invest. Your average artist isn't going to have that. That's essentially the same deal with Mac Miller except he's actually on an indie label.

People get impressed with an artist being successful while remaining independent without realizing that you need TONS of money to make that happen. How many artists under 25 are going to be able to do that not named Mac Miller? Macklemore is 30, he had plenty of time to get that bread up.

Right, and that's why i view Macklemore as like the music or hip hop version of an internet start-up company that booms & then sells to a bigger property like a Google, Microsoft or Yahoo.

These internet start-ups that become big on their own always need some kinda investor/silent partner behind to get it up to the level where they can boom (i.e. Facebook, Tumblr, Skype, etc.)

Is it possible that he can make more than 50 did back in '03 when he busted through the door like that?

 

[Mac Casper]

From what people have said in here it looks like he has a P&D with a major distributor combined with finances, possibly brought forward by an independent financier or special interest groups

 

[36 Chambers]

Is Ryan Lewis eating as well as Macklemore?

That thrift song blew up mostly because of the beat and the hook. Can't lie that beat knocks