Tom MacDonald

Behind the endless list of internet-breaking music videos, chart-topping songs (29 Billboard #1’s), hundred of thousands of album sales, sold out shows and millions of die-hard fans is independent artist, Tom MacDonald.  Without a record label, management or industry support of any kind - Tom has captivated the world’s attention with his viral Hip-Hop and Pop songs, though his latest song, “Ghost,” bucks that trend and is a love letter to his collaborator and girlfriend, Canadian artist Nova Rockafeller.

"For seven years I've tried to write this song and they were never perfect,” MacDonald explains. "I just kept trashing them. Nova deserves perfect. I came up with ‘Ghost' a couple months ago sitting in the studio at my house. I played a little guitar and started building the beat out and pretty much wrote the song while I was producing the beat. I was in the studio for four or five hours and Nova was sitting in the living room and I went and grabbed her to hear this song I wrote for her. She was blown away because she's been waiting for me to write a song about her for seven years. It's as close to perfect as it's going to get.”

The video has over 6 million views and 1.5 million Spotify streams in its first two weeks of release.

MacDonald is a unique artist with a huge, passionate and active fanbase. Everything he has built and created has been done by him and Nova. Tom writes and produces all of his music while Nova directs, shoots and edits all of his music videos. Together, the power couple is responsible for merchandising, marketing, distribution - and literally every other aspect that his mega-successful career entails.

In many ways, he reflects what a Rockstar should be at the very core of its definition, because he’s fearless and free. “A few years ago, my dad was like, ‘You might be a rapper, but what you’re doing right now is rock ‘n’ roll. Rock ‘n’ roll has always been about screaming the truth at the top of your lungs. It’s always been more about the message and less about the music’. That’s where I’m at. I’m a rapper, but it’s the attitude of rock ‘n’ roll.”  

That attitude carries over to everything he does. His choice to sell albums only on CD reflects a level of childhood nostalgia and incredible business acumen as he’s sold 150,000-plus physical units on his own and songs only go to streaming when there’s a music video accompanying it. He only post links to iTunes and Amazon, and has a die-hard fan base who is used to purchasing. 

Tom MacDonald is truly a 100% independent success story.

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