Garth Goes To Wal-Mart

[drock89]

Garth Brooks ropes exclusive deal with Wal-Mart

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Retired country star Garth Brooks has signed a multi-year, exclusive pact with Wal-Mart, making the world's biggest 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 shareholders meeting June 3 in Bentonville, Ark., Wal-Mart's hometown. However, until now, both sides have declined to acknowledge that they had made a deal.

Brooks told Billboard that he's not ready to discuss details of the Wal-Mart deal until "we get our ducks a row," but added 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, by which stage he will be 53.

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.

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.

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 hit shelves in late fall and will retail at around $25.

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 www.Billboard.com.

Reuters/Billboard

[kyhomeg]

Please who cares, I sure don't. Garth turned me off years ago, when he seemed less concerned about the music and more concerned about being the Top Selling Male artist. When he became obessed with that, I stopped being a fan.

Guess it is hurting his ego that Elvis has pulled way ahead of him as Top Selling Male.

After the first few years Garth changed, it became more about marketing and sales and I turned him off. I still remember when he released his Double Live CD with 7 different covers, for one reason only I'm sure.

[anitabakerfan]

I like Garth....but Walmart is a horrible, horrible company and I refuse to shop at Walmart. They have a long track record of violating employee rights and using sweat shops to maunfacturer their products....Shame on Garth !!!

[drock89]

Can't wait for the box set!

[kyhomeg]

Enjoy all you want, I won't be buying.

[drock89]

Like it or not, Garth sold more than Tim lol anyway, the album covers thing was for the fans, and obviously a very well played marketing trick, as Double Live is the best selling live album ever.

[kyhomeg]

shaniagotchagood said:

Like it or not, Garth sold more than Tim lol anyway, the album covers thing was for the fans, and obviously a very well played marketing trick, as Double Live is the best selling live album ever.

You are so predictable, only you would find someway to bring another artist that is not related to the discussion at all in to the mix. So typical.

Jsut so you know I was a fan of Garth long before I even knew who Tim Mcgraw was. So funny.

[drock89]

Ditto, and I laughed...

EDIT: Darn smilies

[bigbluenote]

You are so predictable, only you would find someway to bring another artist that is not related to the discussion at all in to the mix. So typical.

Jsut so you know I was a fan of Garth long before I even knew who Tim Mcgraw was.  So funny.

WAIT WAIT WAIT a second. Correct me if I'm wrong: But aren't YOU the one who always brings Faith or Tim into discussions? I know you didn't in this thread, I'll give you that. But I don't think you have the right to accuse shaniagotchagood of bringing 'another artist' (Tim) into this discussion 'like he always does'. From what I've seen, you are the one that does that, not him. Besides, he was trying to bring up a point to you in words that you would understand (i.e. Tim and Faith).

[musicbuff78]

Garth SUX

[bigbluenote]

steelo said:

Garth SUX

I second that.

[kyhomeg]

Garth is in a hissy cause he is not longer the #1 selling Male artist so he has found a way to inflate his numbers again.

[dcowboy77]

also with the garth box set at walmart u get a free bottle of wine...the choices being:

chateau traileur parc
white trashfindel
NASCARbernet

[drock89]

kyhomeg said:

Garth is in a hissy cause he is not longer the #1 selling Male artist so he has found a way to inflate his numbers again.

Yes he is. Check your facts. He still has over 100 million records sold in the US alone even after being retired. Second to him in country is George over 50 million. I know you think this is a marketing trick, but I think it's a great idea and can't wait. Plus I love Wal-Mart, aka my second home.

[musicbuff78]

All I can say is thank god the deal wasn't inked with TARGET......I'm not a wally world shopper.

[kyhomeg]

Shania fan you need to get your facts straight, Garth is NOT the #1 selling Male Artist in the US or the world, Elvis is so get your facts straight before shooting off at the hip.

[drock89]

kyhomeg said:

Shania fan you need to get your facts straight, Garth is NOT the #1 selling Male Artist in the US or the world, Elvis is so get your facts straight before shooting off at the hip.

Sorry, so I once put words in your mouth, but I thought you were referring to Country males. Good lord.

[bamafan2102]

I don't hear anyone complaining about the Elvis people putting out rehashes of Greatest Hits albums and pulling out "lost" tracks to better his sells total. Elvis has been out forever (way before I was born) , and Garth has only been out 16 or so years. I think what he has done (and hopefully will continue to do) is AMAZING! A lot of people complain that country isn't selling and has sold out to the pop side but when Garth comes out with a pure country album that sells TONS he gets trashed. Garth is and always will be the BIGGEST MALE country artist in history and whatever he feels he needs to do to protect that is his perogitive. I don't agree with a new box set because he dosen't really have anything that wasn't in the first box set other than the Christmas albums and Sevens and a few other things. Hopefully in the next 10 years he will reemerge and dominate again. But once you've DOMINATED something it's hard to be motivated to comeback to it. What does he have to prove? He pretty much ran the record label when he was hot so starting one on his own is nothing new to him. Was he not the largest selling artist at one time? He has sold 100,000,000 million albums! Enough said

I do have a question though. If he does do a new album will it only be sold at Wal -Mart or is it just his back catalog? Also I think it would be a good time to accept the invitation to the Grand Ole Opry that he turned down years ago. Why not show up a few times a year? It would keep people interested in his music and help sells all at the same time.

[kyhomeg]

Well his people are finding giving Elvis the credit he deserves. It was a different system back then. The label is finding been going back and crediting Elvis's older stuff that NEVER GOT credit. Nothing wrong with that, and they are still going his huge catalogs of older stuff so he can finally get credit for what he sold. That is only right.

To even mention Garth's name in the same breath as THE KING is a joke. No one will ever come close to what Elivs was able to do.

[bamafan2102]

Can't fault Garth for the system can you? He has still sold 100,000,000 albums. Last time I checked, that's a lot ;)

[drock89]

Hey guess what? Did you know that at one time Garth had sold more than Elvis even? It was just a few years ago that Elvis passed him!

[kyhomeg]

Shania fan go back and read, Garth ACTUALLY was never ahead of Elvis. Elvis has ALWAYS had higher numbers ir just took him a while to get credit for them.

[drock89]

kyhomeg said:

Shania fan go back and read, Garth  ACTUALLY was never ahead of Elvis. Elvis has ALWAYS had higher numbers ir just took him a while to get credit for them.

WRONG. Until either 2002 or 2003 the RIAA had GARTH ahead of ELVIS. It was within the last few years that GARTH was passed by ELVIS! Maybe if you wouldn't seclude yourself to Tim and Faith, you would understand this.

[kyhomeg]

What you fail to understand is no matter if Garth OFFICIALLY was ahead of Elvis up until a few years ago it was ONLY in the books, HE WAS NOT really ahead of Elvis.

Maybe you need to get out of the Shania world and maybe you will understand.

In the last few years RIAA and RCA made a effort to go back to audit Elvis sales and to finally give him the credit and the honor HE HAS ALWAYS HAD. Garth comes from a different era when tracking of sales and certification come much easier. Like I said Garth WAS NEVER REALLY the Top selling solo Male artist, he was only that IN NAME for a few years because that hadn't took the time to look at all Elvis had sold. The RIAA with RCA's dedication to finally get all of Elvis numbers accounted for took a step(BTW they are still in the process so Elvis numbers will go even higher) and GAVE ELVIS HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE AND WHERE HE ALWAYS WAS EVEN THOUGH GARTH HELD IT FOR A COUPLE YEARS WITHOUT REALLY HAVING THE RECORD.

Elvis Presley Now Best Selling Solo Artist In U.S. History

Catalog Audit Results in 15 New Certifications

WASHINGTON - With a large crowd of fans gathering to celebrate Elvis Presley's birthday, RCA Records and BMG Strategic Marketing Group, both part of BMG, with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced at a ceremony on the grounds of Graceland Mansion this morning that Elvis Presley now stands as the best selling solo artist in U.S. history.

"Elvis Presley, quite simply, is an American icon," said RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Bainwol. "As such an important musical, historical and cultural figure, we're thrilled to be able to make this announcement. We will continue to work closely with BMG to make sure that there will be more exciting news about the Elvis Presley catalog in the near future," concluded Bainwol.

"It is incredibly gratifying to have the certifications to back up what many have long held as an article of faith, that Elvis is the best selling solo artist in U.S. history," said Joe DiMuro, Executive Vice President, BMG Strategic Marketing Group. "I'd like to thank the RIAA and our team who worked tirelessly to complete this audit and help secure Elvis' historic achievement."

In August 2002, it was announced that the Presley catalog finally passed the previously elusive 100 million sales mark. And now during this recent audit, 15 titles were either being certified for the first time or upgraded from previously audited sales levels, his overall album sales total climbed to 117.5 million.

In all, seven new Gold records were added to his overall tally including "Almost In Love," "C'mon Everybody," "Double Dynamite," "Elvis Sings Hits From His Movies, Vol. 1," "Frankie & Johnny," "I Got Lucky" and his 1956 release "Love Me Tender." Four of these titles ("Almost In Love," "Double Dynamite," "Elvis Sings Hits From His Movies, Vol. 1" and "Frankie & Johnny") were also certified Platinum for sales in excess of one million copies. There were four additional Platinum awards for "Flaming Star," "From Nashville To Memphis," "Let's Be Friends," and "Separate Ways."

Additionally, four new multi-Platinum certifications included "Burning Love and Hits From His Movies, Vol. 2" (two million), "The Top Ten Hits" (four million), "You'll Never Walk Alone" (three million) and "Elvis' Christmas Album" which remains the best selling title in the Elvis Presley catalog with certified sales of more than nine million copies.

Also, contributing to his overall sales total was the recently released "2nd TO NONE," a collection of Elvis Presley singles that follows up 2002's "ELV1S: 30 #1 HITS," which was certified both Gold and Platinum in November 2003 for sales of more than one million copies.

In all, Elvis Presley has received 97 Gold Records, 55 of which have been certified Platinum, and 25 have gone on to multi-Platinum status. His highest certified album is "Elvis' Christmas Album" which has been certified for the sale of more than nine million copies.

He has also received more Gold and Platinum singles than any artist in history with 51 Gold singles, 27 of which have been certified Platinum with seven being certified multi-Platinum.

Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman audit all certification requests for the RIAA's Gold and Platinum award program.

[kyhomeg]

This part of the article says it better than I can and what is the truth, Elvis has ALWAYS been the best selling Male solo artist but until recently they hadn't taken the time to UPDATE AND REVIEW HIS SALES AND TOO LOOK AT SOME OF OLD, OLD RECORDINGS.

It is incredibly gratifying to have the certifications to BACK UP what many have LONG HELD as an article of faith, that Elvis is the best selling solo artist in U.S. history," said Joe DiMuro, Executive Vice President, BMG Strategic Marketing Group. "I'd like to thank the RIAA and our team who worked tirelessly to complete this audit and help secure Elvis' historic achievement."

[jacksonfan]

bigbluenote said:

You are so predictable, only you would find someway to bring another artist that is not related to the discussion at all in to the mix. So typical.

Jsut so you know I was a fan of Garth long before I even knew who Tim Mcgraw was.  So funny.

WAIT WAIT WAIT a second. Correct me if I'm wrong: But aren't YOU the one who always brings Faith or Tim into discussions? I know you didn't in this thread, I'll give you that. But I don't think you have the right to accuse shaniagotchagood of bringing 'another artist' (Tim) into this discussion 'like he always does'. From what I've seen, you are the one that does that, not him. Besides, he was trying to bring up a point to you in words that you would understand (i.e. Tim and Faith).

Sorry bigbluenote - have to correct you - you are WRONG - nursie/kyhomeg NEVER NEVER EVER brings Tim and Faith into a discussion that isn't about them!

[kyhomeg]

That too me, is the major purpose of why Garth is doing this thing with WalMart. For so many years, he was so driven and focused on being the Top Selling Male  Artist, in fact to many it seem it was more important to Garth than the music at times. Well since they have started reviewing all of Elvis's catalog of albums and giving him FINALLY WHAT HE EARNED.DESERVED AND SOLD, it has knock Garth out of a postion that he really never was at, but something he was obessed about for so many years.

[jacksonfan]

kyhomeg said:

That too me, is the major purpose of why Garth is doing this thing with WalMart. For so many years, he was so driven and focused on being the Top Selling Male  Artist, in fact to many it seem it was more important to Garth than the music at times. Well since they have started reviewing all of Elvis's catalog of albums and giving him FINALLY WHAT HE EARNED.DESERVED AND SOLD, it has knock Garth out of a postion that he really never was at, but something he was obessed about for so many years.

I'm not really a big Garth fan (his rope swinging, guitar breaking garbage is not for me) - but why does this bother you so much?  Who cares if he sells 1 million or 1 trillion albums - if you don't like him that's fine - not everyone does.  Are you just afraid he's getting more credit than others?

[drock89]

kyhomeg said:

What you fail to understand is no matter if Garth OFFICIALLY was ahead of Elvis up until a few years ago it was ONLY in the books, HE WAS NOT really ahead of Elvis.

Ah so I was right and you tried to tell me I was wrong. That press release shows me nothing because some artists are ahead of others presently, but they need the certification to prove it. So, Garth was ahead of Elvis. End of story. Thank you for proving me right over you. I appreciate it ;)

[kyhomeg]

No you are wrong Shania fan no matter how you try to spin it. Elvis was the top selling male artist but see he didn't come from a modern time frame when the certifications were easy to dertermine and verify. So NO MATTER if he had the audit to get the OFFICIAL word, doesn't take away THAT HE HAD MORE SALES THAN GARTH AND ALWAYS WILL. So Shania WRONG AGAIN.