Oliver Anthony burst onto the scene last summer with his viral hit “Rich Men North of Richmond.” The song put him at the center of a controversy that helped get more eyes and ears on his work. Not long after the song went viral it debuted at the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. He released his debut album Hymnal of a Troubled Man’s Mind in March and has released another single since. After a short but successful career, he’s ready to leave the music industry.
He didn’t publicly announce that he was leaving the music industry. Instead, he revealed his plans for the future while answering fans’ comments on a recent social media post.
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Oliver Anthony Plans to Leave the Music Industry
The comment came on a video in which Oliver Anthony was advertising a forthcoming benefit concert and taking part in the time-honored West Virginia University tradition of setting a couch on fire. He informed his followers that the first Rural Revival Project would take place in Morgantown, West Virginia on November 2. Tickets will only cost $25 and all proceeds will go to benefit hurricane relief.
“Oliver Anthony is literally everything that is right in the music industry!!! Just a genuine good dude! Keep it up brother!” one fan commented.
“I’m in the process of getting out of the music industry,” Anthony replied. “It’s a big joke. The plan is to eventually change my entire focus to traveling ministry work. It’s all part of the Rural Revival thing. I just have to go at it in baby steps since it’s completely DIY,” he explained.
“Does that mean no more music from you? You have such an authentic talent,” another fan commented in the same thread. “No, I’ll still be releasing music just like normal,” Anthony assured them. “I’ll just be set up legally as a ministry,” he added.
So, Anthony plans to leave the music industry while still writing and releasing music. It will be interesting to see how he makes those things work in the future.
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