Brooks Albums to Only Be Sold at Wal-Mart - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 08-20-2005, 04:10 PM

I'm no big fan of country music, or a fan of Garth Brooks at all, but this can't be good news for the music industry.

Garth Brooks Inks Exclusive Deal With Wal-Mart

By Melinda Newman, L.A.
Billboard

Garth Brooks has signed a multi-year, exclusive pact with Wal-Mart, making the retailer and its Sam's Clubs and Walmart.com outlets the only places where his music will be commercially available.

The deal with Brooks marks the first time an artist -- and certainly a superstar -- has aligned himself and his entire catalog with one chain. (A number of other retailers have started labels, but they were never exclusive to the retailer and most have shut down).

Speculation about a pact brewing between Brooks and Wal-Mart grew after the artist performed at a Wal-Mart shareholders meeting June 3 in Bentonville, Ark. However, until now, both sides have declined to acknowledge that they had made a deal.

Brooks tells Billboard that he's not ready to discuss details of the marriage until "we get our ducks a row," but adds that the forthcoming releases, "in everything from cost to content, will be an amazing deal for the Garth fan."

The initial deal is believed to cover only catalog since Brooks had vowed to remain retired from performing and recording new material until his youngest daughter graduates from high school in 2015. Then, he has said he'll reevaluate the marketplace and his desire to return to the music recording industry. Brooks' last studio album, 2001's Scarecrow, has sold 2.9 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Although neither Brooks nor Wal-Mart would comment on the first arrival under the pact, industry sources say that it will be a multiple-disc box set including previously unreleased material. The set will street in late fall and will retail at around $25.

While other superstars, such as Elton John and the Rolling Stones have released exclusive box sets through Best Buy, they were DVD projects. This is the first time an artist has released an audio box set exclusively through a traditional retailer.

Such a project, because it is not available to all retailers, would not be eligible for the Billboard 200 album chart, but would appear on the Billboard Comprehensive Albums chart, which appears on Billboard.com.

Brooks' departure from Capitol Nashville, his label home since 1989, paved the way for the Wal-Mart deal. Capitol and Brooks dissolved their licensing deal in June. Brooks owns his masters, leaving him free to shop for a new deal. His catalog includes 15 projects. Capitol parent EMI can sell remaining Brooks' titles it already had in the pipeline to retailers prior to the June deal, but it can manufacture no more units.

Dean Winchester · 08-20-2005, 05:59 PM

Garth is retired until 2015, but does this mean Chris Gaines is retired too?

AKA · 08-20-2005, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffySlayer79

Garth is retired until 2015, but does this mean Chris Gaines is retired too?

Down-on-his-luck and homeless, Chris Gaines died of a heroin overdose in 2002.

Anyway, this exclusive Wal-Mart deal is an awful, evil precedent. Shame on you, Mr. Brooks. This can only mean more of the same crap by other artists and/or stores.

Way to take a crap on the already abused music consumer.

Dean Winchester · 08-20-2005, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKA

Down-on-his-luck and homeless, Chris Gaines died of a heroin overdose in 2002.

Anyway, this exclusive Wal-Mart deal is an awful, evil precedent. Shame on you, Mr. Brooks. This can only mean more of the same crap by other artists and/or stores.

Way to take a crap on the already abused music consumer.

I doubt it will make much of an impact anyways. Garth was the biggest star of the 90's period, but he's practically forgotten, the country market has moved onto Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and others and Garth is old hat to them, his last album was disasterous and sold well below what Chesney, McGraw, Toby Keith and Alan Jackson's albums around the same time did. He's about as relevant as Billy Ray Cyrus at this point.

Dr. Thong · 08-20-2005, 09:08 PM

If you must buy any of Garth's albums, buy them used in an independent CD store and sent Garth a note telling him you did so. And then burn a copy for a friend whether they want it or not.

TJL · 08-20-2005, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuffySlayer79

I doubt it will make much of an impact anyways. Garth was the biggest star of the 90's period, but he's practically forgotten, the country market has moved onto Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and others and Garth is old hat to them, his last album was disasterous and sold well below what Chesney, McGraw, Toby Keith and Alan Jackson's albums around the same time did. He's about as relevant as Billy Ray Cyrus at this point.

I agree.

Does Garth's albums still sell well enough that Wal-Mart will make $$$?

2015 is a long wait for new material. I have a feeling he'll have a change of heart about that after signing this deal.

ABlairican Pie · 08-20-2005, 11:27 PM

Gee, I wonder if he's gonna do major outdoor concerts in Wal-Mart parking lots.

SBTB Geek · 08-21-2005, 03:20 AM

LOL, was the Chris Gaines movie ever completed?

Dean Winchester · 08-21-2005, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SBTB Geek

LOL, was the Chris Gaines movie ever completed?

I don't think they started it. When the album plummetted off the charts in record time (I think Garth started the trend of superstar superflops, followed by Glitter, Just Whitney, American Life, Damita Jo, etc....) he ditched the whole concept because nobody was really getting into it.

Dr. Thong · 08-21-2005, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

I agree.

Does Garth's albums still sell well enough that Wal-Mart will make $$$?

2015 is a long wait for new material. I have a feeling he'll have a change of heart about that after signing this deal.

The question is: After such a long absence, is anyone going to care anymore?? Doubt it.

TJL · 08-21-2005, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The question is: After such a long absence, is anyone going to care anymore?? Doubt it.

I agree, which is why I don't think he's going to stay retired for another 10 years.
I'm sure Garth has probably gotten some pressure from his new bosses to start recording again.
As I said before, a big bucks company like Wal-Mart isn't going to wait a decade for the chance to earn some dough.

Dr. Thong · 08-21-2005, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

I agree, which is why I don't think he's going to stay retired for another 10 years.
I'm sure Garth has probably gotten some pressure from his new bosses to start recording again.
As I said before, a big bucks company like Wal-Mart isn't going to wait a decade for the chance to earn some dough.

Right. I mean, back catalog can only sustain you for so long.

In response to people who "didn't get" the Chris Gaines thing - he was doing a David Bowie. He was taking on a persona and doing a conceptual thing with it. I actually thought that was pretty cool of him. And while people consider it a flop, it did sell a million copies, so it's hard to write it off as a total failure.

Okay, now back to the Garth-bashing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dean Winchester · 08-21-2005, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Right. I mean, back catalog can only sustain you for so long.

In response to people who "didn't get" the Chris Gaines thing - he was doing a David Bowie. He was taking on a persona and doing a conceptual thing with it. I actually thought that was pretty cool of him. And while people consider it a flop, it did sell a million copies, so it's hard to write it off as a total failure.

Okay, now back to the Garth-bashing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well, 1 million copies is a flop for someone of Garth's calibre (just like Janet's album sold 1 million and everyone calls Damita Jo a dud). MJ's Invincible sold over 2 million and NOBODY has ever called the album a success.

The problem with Chris Gaines is that he was less Ziggy Stardust and more Spinal Tap... except Spinal Tap was INTENTIONALLY funny. I remember watching the VH1 Behind The Music on "Chris Gaines".

08-20-2005, 04:10 PM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Brooks Albums to Only Be Sold at Wal-Mart I'm no big fan of country music, or a fan of Garth Brooks at all, but this can't be good news for the music industry. Garth Brooks Inks Exclusive Deal With Wal-Mart By Melinda Newman, L.A. Billboard Garth Brooks has signed a multi-year, exclusive pact with Wal-Mart, making the retailer and its Sam's Clubs and Walmart.com outlets the only places where his music will be commercially available. The deal with Brooks marks the first time an artist -- and certainly a superstar -- has aligned himself and his entire catalog with one chain. (A number of other retailers have started labels, but they were never exclusive to the retailer and most have shut down). Speculation about a pact brewing between Brooks and Wal-Mart grew after the artist performed at a Wal-Mart shareholders meeting June 3 in Bentonville, Ark. However, until now, both sides have declined to acknowledge that they had made a deal. Brooks tells Billboard that he's not ready to discuss details of the marriage until "we get our ducks a row," but adds that the forthcoming releases, "in everything from cost to content, will be an amazing deal for the Garth fan." The initial deal is believed to cover only catalog since Brooks had vowed to remain retired from performing and recording new material until his youngest daughter graduates from high school in 2015. Then, he has said he'll reevaluate the marketplace and his desire to return to the music recording industry. Brooks' last studio album, 2001's Scarecrow, has sold 2.9 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Although neither Brooks nor Wal-Mart would comment on the first arrival under the pact, industry sources say that it will be a multiple-disc box set including previously unreleased material. The set will street in late fall and will retail at around $25. While other superstars, such as Elton John and the Rolling Stones have released exclusive box sets through Best Buy, they were DVD projects. This is the first time an artist has released an audio box set exclusively through a traditional retailer. Such a project, because it is not available to all retailers, would not be eligible for the Billboard 200 album chart, but would appear on the Billboard Comprehensive Albums chart, which appears on Billboard.com. Brooks' departure from Capitol Nashville, his label home since 1989, paved the way for the Wal-Mart deal. Capitol and Brooks dissolved their licensing deal in June. Brooks owns his masters, leaving him free to shop for a new deal. His catalog includes 15 projects. Capitol parent EMI can sell remaining Brooks' titles it already had in the pipeline to retailers prior to the June deal, but it can manufacture no more units.

08-20-2005, 09:08 PM	#5
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	If you must buy any of Garth's albums, buy them used in an independent CD store and sent Garth a note telling him you did so. And then burn a copy for a friend whether they want it or not.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

08-20-2005, 11:27 PM	#7
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,620	Gee, I wonder if he's gonna do major outdoor concerts in Wal-Mart parking lots.
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

08-20-2005, 05:59 PM	#2
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	Garth is retired until 2015, but does this mean Chris Gaines is retired too?

08-21-2005, 03:20 AM	#8
SBTB Geek Smooth Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 21, 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 6,004	LOL, was the Chris Gaines movie ever completed?