[clicks]

The first comment on that article brings up a good point, that it was because the song was becoming so famous and popular on Youtube/iTunes that radio stations were forced to play it, it wasn't that this reality was arranged by some key players who're the ultimate deciders on what ends up getting radio airplay and what not:

For those of us deeply established in Seattle hiphop music; we know this post is not "the real story". In fact, it is completely unfactual and more than misleading. Macklemore is an independent artist who, along with Ryan Lewis, earned the Number 1 spot, first on iTunes and then confirmed on Billboard. Radio had no choice but to add the Thrift Shop single - or face being confirmed as an out dated form of music discovery. Major music Industry is no longer the sole means of entry into the fold. I find it amazing how large format Media tries to explain away how an upstart dared to do this while turning down Diddy, Jay Z and Interscope offers along the way.

Macklemore has worked very hard for years to achieve this feat, and he should be celebrated. Any analysis at this point should be from a place of admiration and not denegration, as the title of this post attempts to do.