A host of present-day stars found to owe their success to the internet. Acclaimed rapper Macklemore and his partner Ryan Lewis met through MySpace. They went on to self-produce and promote their songs, and in 2012 their album Heist won a Grammy award for the best rap album. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis depended on web-based promotions and tours to market their music and proved that the digital age could allow indie artists to reach global audiences and achieve the highest levels of success. By refusing to sign with one of the major record labels, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were able to retain the publishing rights to their songs and forgo the percentage cuts that record labels impose on signed artists. Other artists have gotten their success through online platforms, including Lily Allen, Jessie J, Mike Posner, and Charlie Puth.
