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baroquemirrors:
Daily reminder of old age: 15 years ago today, Hanson released Middle of Nowhere.
The album sold 10 million copies, had 5 hit singles, and earned the band 3 Grammy nominations. Hanson holds the record for loudest recorded concert audience in history.
In 2000 Hanson’s label, Mercury Records, merged with Island Def Jam Records. The band recorded over 80 demos for the label, but head of A&R Jeff Fenster refused to release an album that didn’t have the radio appeal of Mmmbop.
After a three year struggle, the band negotiated a contract release from IDJ. They released their 3rd album Underneath from their own independent label, 3CG Records. In 2005 they released a film that documented their creative dispute with IDJ and their decision to launch their own label. It was nominated for Best Documentary at the 10th Annual Hollywood Film Festival in 2006.
In 2007, a radio DJ in Chicago played Hanson’s single Great Divide as a “mystery artist” experiment. The song became the most requested song on the station, but was abruptly pulled from the rotation after pressure from Island Def Jam prompted the station to threaten the DJ with job termination. Backlash from their public label split and their small marketing budget prevented them from releasing a radio single in the US for their 4th album The Walk (though they were able to release singles in the UK and Japan).
In 2010, Hanson made their return to radio with their single Thinkin ‘Bout Something. The video spent several weeks in the VH1 Top 20 countdown.
In 2011, Hanson played sold-out shows in Latin America, the US, and Europe. In 2012 they will tour in Canada and Australia. This is their largest international tour since 2005.
Fifteen years after Middle of Nowhere, Hanson has released five studio albums and numerous concert DVDs and EPs. Brothers Isaac (31), Taylor (29), and Zac (26) are all married. Isaac and Zac each have two children; Taylor and his wife are expecting their fifth child late this year.
(via anotherdisillusion)