Garth Brooks Gives NEW Definition to the word "sellout"

Published on August 20, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Current Events

OK, I could give two shits on this one since I am about as likely to buy a Garth Brooks album as I am to contribute money knowingly to the DNC, but still (shakes head)...

According to the link, Brooks has signed an exclusive distribution deal with WalMart and Sam's Club. That's right, when Garth puts out more music, it will only be available in the censored music capitol of the world.

Now, distribution deals like this are nothing new. In fact, they're appearing to be all the rage, to my chagrin as I wouldn't mind listening to Allison Krause's new CD, but lack of proximity to a Cracker Barrel and an unwillingness to enter a debit card number on a library computer make that a statistical unlikelihood...but I digress. But I can't help but think that an artist's artistic integrity, if they had any, would suffer greatly with such an exclusive deal. And I would fear that an artist bound by such exclusive terms might be tempted to name drop on a coupla tracks. In Garth's case, it might mean that references to Stetson hats, the standard of the country music set, are verbotten, since such hats aren't available at Wally World.

But, it's his life, I guess (shrug).

Comments (Page 1)

Dr Guy

on Aug 20, 2005

It is his life. I dont have a problem with it. I dont like it, but then I dont like Wally world either.

Daiwa

on Aug 20, 2005

Whatever you think of this, Garth is a decent guy and a genuinely gifted entertainer. First saw him @ a July 4th concert @ WestWorld in Scottsdale back in 1990 or 91, well before Low Places. By quirk of fate ended up working part-time with his original promoter for 9 years on an unrelated project & learned enough to know he's the real deal. I don't think he's sold out any more than any other performer, or any other person looking to hustle a buck, for that matter.

Cheers,
Daiwa

bakerstreet

on Aug 20, 2005

Gid: Most banks now have one-shot debit cards you can buy from visa. There's a 5 dollar charge. If someone gets the number, it's no harm. You can't even recharge them.

As for Wal-Mart, their business model is basically 'everything for everyone', but they tend to have particular classes that come there. They aren't ideological censors, they are businesspeople who have the right to sell what they want to sell. They know that in many rural communities people appreciate that they are choosy about what they sell. It benefits them.

Most deals like this aren't until the end of time anyway. Usually a store agrees to pay pennies on the dollar more for the CDs from the distributor in order to be the first one to sell them for a week or a month. I doubt seriously this will never be on Amazon.com or ITunes or any of the big chains. I bet this is for a short time only.

Anyway, who cares? This is about Liberty, Gid. Garth's records are his own to distribute. Wal-mart has the right to choose the records they sell without some imposed anti-censorship sentiment.

dharmagrl

on Aug 20, 2005

I wouldn't mind listening to Allison Krause's new CD, but lack of proximity to a Cracker Barrel and an unwillingness to enter a debit card number on a library computer make that a statistical unlikelihood...but I digress

Gid, there's a Cracker Barrel right down the street from me. I can get you a CD and mail it to you if you want.

I'm disappointed with Garth's decision, but I can understand why he did it. I imagine that he sees it as the place where a lot of his fans shop and feel most afiliated with....I mean, Garth Brooks and Wal-Mart are both as American as...well, Garth Brooks and Wal-Mart!

I don't like Wal-Mart's music or book selection, so I don't buy my tunes or books there.

ParaTed2k

on Aug 20, 2005

There a a lot of Garth Brook songs, I like, but let's face it, "Integrity" has never been his middle name. Let him rope the wind at his pleasure and see where he lands when the thunder rolls and the lightning strikes. His friends in low places will always there to pick up the pieces. ;~D

Furry Canary

on Aug 20, 2005

Isn't it the case that Garth Brooks has a degree in Marketing? I don't think he's 'sold out' - rather, I suspect he's always known EXACTLY what he was doing!

Furry Canary

on Aug 20, 2005

Whoops ... perhaps I'll correct my mistake before anybody else does ...

Garth Brooks doesn't have a degree in Marketing, but in Advertising. However, I don't think this undermines my argument much! Chris Gaines, anyone?

HC1240

on Aug 20, 2005

*groan*

Locamama

on Aug 20, 2005

When I saw the title on yahoo home page - Brooks coming to Walmart - I thought it was sad that his career had now hit the point where he was going to be performing in Walmart parking lots. How the mighty have fallen - ha ha. I lost it for Garth when he became Chris Gaines - remember that mess. Take off the wig Garth. He always wanted to be a rock star. When he couldn't make it he decided to make one up. Of course, I was never a huge fan but I do think that he has always come across as genuine and caring but I don't know if that's reality or a good PR machine.

Ziggystyles

on Aug 21, 2005

Define sell out? I used to work at a Christian Rock radio station. DC talk was a big band back in the day....until they signed on to Virgin Records. Now, they hardly have any new music. People say the band signed so they could spread their music further. Other people, myself included...feel they signed with Virgin to make a whole lotta mula. Before, their music came from the heart. Now, their music just fulfills a deadline put in place by a contract.

Payable On Death (aka....P.O.D.) also was a big band in the Christian Rock genre. They were pretty big before they signed on to Sony Records...and then when they did...they got a lot of Secular airplay and got really big. Now, you hardly hear about em.

Bands sell out many times first by signing record contracts.

Daiwa

on Aug 21, 2005

Gid -

If you're talking about Lonely Runs Both Ways, it is awesome - I listen for hours at a time & never get tired of it. Go find it.

Cheers,
Daiwa

kingbee

on Aug 21, 2005

By quirk of fate ended up working part-time with his original promoter for 9 ye

a promotion-related project?

kingbee

on Aug 21, 2005

nothin garth brooks is doing with walmart comes anywhere close to the stones' 'big bang' tour (which opens today in boston).

sponsored by ameriquest ?????????

for a $100,000 contribution to ahnold's campaign fund, the governator (who claims to be beholden to noone but keeps doin this kinda stuff only not quite as bizarre) will grant you access to sit in the schwarzenegger private vip booth (in addition to being able to pitch your cause between tunes, you can possibly get in on the 'which stone is gonna wind up in the er tonite?' pool). those of us who don't have that kinda money should at least be able to round up $10k which gets ya into a private pre-concert reception and front row center seats (you may still be able to place bets but if nobody wins, your wager becomes an additional contribution)>

Daiwa

on Aug 21, 2005

kb -

Annual aviation event. Just happened to be the promoter's other interest. Ton of work for peanut pay and a ton of fun. Really hooked me on aviation, especially military. And you are so right about the Stones - I was floored when I saw their first Ameriquest commercial. Not that they would do a commercial deal particularly, but I figured they couldn't possibly need to.

On a related note, a good friend of mine was the backstage doc for the Stones concert at Sun Devil Stadium (about 1981 or 82 IIRC) - had some interesting stories to tell. Let's just say the Stones picked a good name for themselves.

Cheers,
Daiwa

terpfan1980

on Aug 21, 2005

I gave up on Garth Brooks when he proved to be a total @#$@# about Napster back in it's heyday. Not that musicians and artists don't deserve to get paid for their work, but he was such a @#$@#$ about it, he turned me off for life.

He can make an exlusive deal with Walmart all he wants. It doesn't mean I'll ever pay a penny for his music. I tolerate hearing it on the radio, normally cursing under my breath and calling him a @#$@#$@ or something similar. Him I can at least tolerate. The Dixie Chicks can burn in hell forever, but there I digress. When I hear them, I change the station. I'd sooner listen to 20 minutes of commercials for the See Clearly Method or some such crap then hear them.

Allison Kraus is someone whose work I really admire. Beautiful voice, a pleasure to listen to. I'd be happy to visit a Cracker Barrel (if there was one in my area, they have avoided the D.C. area like the plague, though they deny being racist, and instead seem to fall back on calling it a business decision so far....) and nab the object of your desire Gid. If it wasn't illegal to share, I'd send you several tunes I expect you'd probably enjoy, but music sharing is a big no-no. Have to stick to pointing you to places like the new Napster, or Wally world, or perhaps Rhapsody or a similar service where you can hope the songs you want to hear will roll around. Not necessarily a good answer.

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