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Grand Rapids LipDub: (Updated) Detailed Aftermath
We released the Grand Rapids LipDub Video, via YouTube. So far, we’ve amassed an amazing 2.4 Million views. On our release date, we ranked #9 on the Top-Viewed videos on the YouTube charts. Our method? Grass roots via social media. The link to our video has been shared on Facebook almost 254,000 times.
But it’s important to note that these YouTube views don’t arrive alone–they have all been accompanied by rave reviews, thumbs up, and most importantly: praise of Grand Rapids. There’s no arguing. The true success of this video is that of Grand Rapids. Where else would something like this been possible. Sure, I smile to myself when I think about what we accomplished–and how deliberately we did it, but in the end I say to myself, “man, I love Grand Rapids!”
And as many know, this video was–in part– a response to the Newsweek article that listed Grand Rapids as #10, in a top-10 list of “dying U.S. cities.” Our fans stated bombarding the Newsweek Facebook page, and–almost immediately–Newsweek responded, (story here).
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The international media has been very kind, too. Roger Ebert went so far as to say that the GRLipDub was “the best music video ever made.” The band OK Go, famous for their elaborate one-shot music videos, posted it to their Facebook wall, and Rachel Maddow posted us on her Blog, as her choice for “the Friday Awesome.” Our former Governor of Michigan, also tweeted our video link and tweeted Director Rob Bliss personally.
Our story was also featured on ABC World News, as the residents of Grand Rapids were named People of the Week.
NPR picked us up from Michgan Radio, and aired a story about us on All Things Considered.
We were also covered, embedded or reposted by Inside Edition, New York Magazine, The Daily Mail (London), The Dennis Miller Show, CBS News, Yahoo!, Sports Illustrated, MSNBC, Mashable.com, Business Insider, Adweek.com, Gawker.com, and The Detroit Free Press.
The story has been picked up by major media outlets in Germany, New Zealand, China, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Brazil, Australia, and countless other countries across the globe–including dozens and dozens of local TV stations and newspapers.
Being a bit biased, my favorite was being interviewed by indieWIRE.com, one of the oldest and most respected web-publications in the Independent Film and Film Business community.
All-in-all, it’s been a great week so far. Many people congratulate me, my mom is proud of me, and I’m a happy camper. Nevertheless, I’m still stricken with–what I call–entrepreneur angst. I have a feeling that this feeling will pass soon. Very soon. Why am I confident of this? Let’s just say a STATUS update will be coming next week.
And it’s an exciting one.
