unilad homepage
  • News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Singer Oliver Anthony claims he's turned down $8 million offers after going viral

Home> Music> News

Published 19:14 18 Aug 2023 GMT+1

Singer Oliver Anthony claims he's turned down $8 million offers after going viral

After gong viral with 'Rich Men North of Richmond', Oliver Anthony claims he's turned down offers from labels in the region of $8 million.

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Sometimes going viral can go to an individual's head, but that is certainly not the case for singer Oliver Anthony.

The US superstar reached viral status last month thanks to his 'Rich Men North of Richmond' track that was recorded on his Virginia farmland.

The song has been viewed more than 17 million times on YouTube, winning over a bunch of conservative fans online, while others described it as 'ring-wing' despite being about the working class.

In all the excitement surrounding his rise to fame, many of his fans don't even know who Anthony is as everyone has been so focused on his track.

Advert

Well, Anthony's real name is actually Christopher Anthony Lunsford; Oliver Anthony was his grandfather, with his stage name of 'Oliver Anthony Music' a tribute towards him.

Oliver Anthony has rose to fame in recent weeks.
YouTube/RadioWV

And in a lengthy Facebook post, Anthony has claimed he turned down seven-figure offers from music reps as he has no interest in becoming famous.

Anthony began the post by addressing his name though: "At this point, I'll gladly go by Oliver because everyone knows me as such. But my friends and family still call me Chris. You can decide for yourself, either is fine."

In the past week alone, Anthony recalls reading more than 50,000 messages and emails that 'paint a brutally honest picture' of the problems surrounding addiction, unemployment, anxiety and hopelessness.

He continued: "I'm sitting in such a weird place in my life right now. I never wanted to be a full time musician, much less sit at the top of the iTunes charts.

"Draven from RadioWv and I filmed these tunes on my land with the hope that it may hit 300k views. I still don't quite believe what has went on since we uploaded that. It's just strange to me."

Anthony then spoke about the large sums he has been offered since his rise to stardom, a quite frankly eye-watering amount indeed.

Oliver Anthony claims he has turned down an eye-watering amount of money.
Facebook/Oliver Anthony Music

"People in the music industry give me blank stares when I brush off 8 million dollar offers," he added on Facebook.

"I don't want 6 tour buses, 15 tractor trailers and a jet. I don't want to play stadium shows, I don't want to be in the spotlight. I wrote the music I wrote because I was suffering with mental health and depression.

"These songs have connected with millions of people on such a deep level because they're being sung by someone feeling the words in the very moment they were being sung.

"No editing, no agent, no bulls**t. Just some idiot and his guitar. The style of music that we should have never gotten away from in the first place."

Elsewhere in the lengthy Facebook post, Anthony spoke about his 'hate' for the internet as it has 'divided all of us'.

I think we can all relate to that.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/RadioWV

Topics: Music, US News, Money

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

2 days ago
13 days ago
14 days ago
19 days ago
  • Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images
    2 days ago

    Chappell Roan's 'boundaries' with fans explained following incident that allegedly left Jude Law's daughter 'in tears'

    The Pink Pony Club singer was accused of sending over her security to an 11-year-old girl, who happened to be the daughter of actor Jude Law

    Music
  • Taylor Hill/Getty Images
    13 days ago

    Noah Kahan defends Chappell Roan after her latest clash with 'parasitic' paparazzi

    Noah Kahan blasted the paparazzi and autograph hunters for their treatment of celebrities, after viral Chappell Roan video emerged

    Music
  • Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
    14 days ago

    Paul McCartney claims Yoko Ono ‘believed John Lennon might have been gay’

    Claims that The Beatles' singer-songwriter John Lennon may have slept with men were repeated by Paul McCartney in an unearthed interview

    Music
  • Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival
    19 days ago

    Jack Osbourne opens up about dad Ozzy's final hours

    While the Black Sabbath star had been unwell, his son said his death still came as a surprise

    Music
  • Tucker Carlson claims he's being framed by the CIA after they read his text messages with Iran
  • Heartwarming reason Eminem turned down gig that ‘would’ve made him $100,000,000’
  • Reason singer Akon was arrested in Georgia as cops release more details
  • Joe Rogan and country singer Oliver Anthony mock reaction to new viral song