Oliver Anthony — whose populist anthem “Rich Men North of Richmond” beat out superstars Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, and Gunna for the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 last month — has inked a deal with United Talent Agency (UTA).
UTA co-head of Nashville Jeffrey Hasson and music agent Curt Motley said in a statement that they are “honored to represent such an authentic artist, and excited to put together a global strategy to bring Oliver Anthony and his music to the people.”
The agency’s portfolio includes Brittney Spencer, Megan Moroney, and Jamey Johnson, who recently performed with Anthony at the birthday block party for Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville.
“Rich Men” became a viral sensation as conservative figures and influencers began sharing the song on social media, and it even received a shoutout during the first GOP presidential primary debate when moderator Martha MacCallum asked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis why he thinks the song was striking a nerve with the country.
After the track’s historic opening week on Billboard’s Hot 100 songs chart, the song topped the chart for a second time in row. With “Rich Men,” Anthony became the first artist to launch atop the list without having previously appeared on it, and the track’s popularity helped boost his other work, including “Ain’t Gotta Dollar” and “90 Some Chevy” on streaming services.
Despite the early support from conservatives, however, Anthony rebuked politicians’ adoption of the track in a YouTube video, noting that they — along with their Democratic rivals — were the very people he was condemning in his song. Anthony has said that he is politically down the middle and contends that “Rich Men” wasn’t intended to align with a political party, but to speak out in frustration about a system in America that isn’t supporting its people.
The country genre has experienced a massive surge this summer, thanks to digital-first behemoths like Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, Luke Combs, and Jelly Roll, but also unusually high digital song sales pushing tracks such as “Rich Men” and Jason Aldean‘s controversial “Try That in a Small Town,” which took Number One in July.
While there are multiple factors contributing to country’s digital revolution, a large factor may be credited to its main demographic — older and still major consumers of radio and digital downloads — finally catching up to streaming.
“It’s inevitable,” Mandelyn Monchick, who manages country music’s latest rising superstar Lainey Wilson, recently told Rolling Stone. “It’s about accessibility, and streaming is most accessible. Country is cooler than it’s ever been and more people depend on streaming platforms, but people’s tastes are changing and broadening.”