Prime example of a record company losing to an alternative source of distribution.

By Josh Grossberg Sun Aug 21

Wal-Mart will soon be ropin' in
Garth Brooks.

The country superstar has signed a deal with the retail chain that will make Wal-Mart and its subsidiaries, Sam's Club and walmart.com, the only place fans will be able to purchase Brooks' entire catalog of music for the indefinite future.

"We understand the Wal-Mart customer and know that bringing them Garth Brooks exclusives in the upcoming years is something that'll excite them as much as it excites us," says Wal-Mart vice president David Porter in a statement.

No word as to how long the exclusive multiyear agreement will last or how much Wal-Mart shelled out for Brooks' services. The retailer would discuss specific terms Friday. Brooks' manager, Bob Doyle, was unavailable for comment.

But, according to Billboard, the partnership calls for the retail giant to release 15 years' worth of Brooks' music, starting with a multidisc box set containing previously unreleased tracks that's expected to hit Wal-Mart outlets in late fall and retail for about $25.

The pact was made possible after Brooks bailed on Capitol Nashville, the label he had called home since 1989. The licensing deal he signed with Capitol expired in June and granted Brooks ownership of all the masters in his catalog, including 15 albums.

Capitol's parent, EMI, will be able to ship its remaining stock of Brooks' albums to any other retailer. But because the record company can no longer manufacture the singer's CDs, once the existing Capitol albums are sold out, Wal-Mart will be the only place fans can buy any of Brooks' music.

The two-time Grammy winner told Billboard that he wasn't going to discuss the pact with Wal-Mart until "we get our ducks in a row." He did say, however, that all future releases "in everything from cost to content, will be an amazing deal for the Garth fan."

Of course, the 43-year-old crooner has no plans on making any new music for a while.

Brooks announced four years ago he was hanging up his Stetson and officially retiring from the road and recording to spend more time with his kids. He vowed not to take the stage again until his youngest daughter graduated from high school in 2015. But that doesn't mean he isn't up for the occasional gig.

In fact, talk of a partnership with Wal-Mart got going after he gave a performance at a June 3 shareholders meeting at the company's headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.

For Wal-Mart, locking up Brooks was a no-brainer.

The entertainer has not only notched a whopping 25 number one hits on the country charts, but he's also the biggest selling solo artist of all time with combined record sales of 100 million.

His last studio effort, 2001's Scarecrow, dubbed his "retirement album," debuted atop the Billboard charts--the seventh number one album of his career, and has sold nearly 3 million copies, per Soundscan.

"We've all missed him--his natural humor and his ability to touch each of our lives through his music and lyrics that seem to reach into our very souls," says Porter.

In May, Brooks received a larger-than-life bronze statute at the Legends in Bronze event atBuck Owens' Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, California. During the ceremony, he popped the question to fellow country star
Trisha Yearwood. No word when the couple will tie the knot, but that Wal-Mart money will come in handy for the honeymoon.

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SO BEAU, how about a CarTune promotion with a local grassroots retailer, maybe a small gas station chain (or a restaurant or...). Offer them 500 CD's to giveaway to full tank qualifying customers each day. 75 per week will run their promotion into approx. 6 weeks. Good length for a promotion and opportunity for them/you to get press going - both pre, during and post promotion. Retailer shows good corporate and community participation with homegrown product yadda yadda yadda.
500 CD's mmmmm - $10K is a good start. That's the AVERAGE budget for a 6 week promotion these days.

"RED" Alert!
I Think she has something here big brother Beau!

so,is this like,the "beau" board or something?
Y'all need 2 quit kissing this crakers lily white ass so much-it is pathetic!
just sayin!
there r other artist's here 2 u know!

Hey Now...the boy has a new release. Aren't we here for support and brainstorming?
I have no reason to kiss ass here. Peace

SammiJ said:

That was NOT me people

i'm sorry
my account has been hijacked...waiting on the mods 2 reply 2 my orgnotes...
carryon

SammiJ said:

Funny... I've been talking to Ben - they're going to change this section to the "That Cracker Beau" Community.

It's got a nice ring to it. I already have the t-shirts in production.
Lunchboxes too.

Red said:

At first, I read this article thinking, "WTF? There's no way I'd ever see THIS record in a Wal-Mart! Not because of me, but because of them. My lyrics ain't exactly ready for Wal-mart."

But then I read your post. That's a very good idea. I'm still planning to actually pimp the record to police stations ("Superhot Lady Cop" tie-in). Just one copy to each station in the city for now, and see what happens.

I think the one challenge to the plan though is, back to my Wal-Mart comment, I don't know too many corporations that would endorse giving away a CD whose lyrics contain passages like:

"She got me going close to 69,that might be illegal in 47 states,
but I can't help myself mama, you're so fine"

I mean, don't get me wrong, maybe some chain of tatoo parlors or a head shop or two...

beauhall said:

i'm not kidding..my account has been hijacked

i don't want 2 offend..i'm sorry
i was not responsible for that first post i SWEAR 2 u.

Of course not Walmart or similar...maybe a grade up from a mom and pop outfit. The corps wouldn't be interested, even if your lyrics weren't offensive. Those lyrics are TAME btw and it's dayum good cartune music for the road, hence the suggestion of a gas station. Just throwing it out; interested in seeing where you're going to go with this.

Best,
[Edited 8/26/05 11:10am]

oh snap - good point. "Car music" - good one. heck yeah I might get up on that.

Well - I didn't think the lyrics were racy, but when I went in for the radio interview last Tuesday, the DJ got all uppity that I wanted to try to play Superhot on the radio... for some reason he equates double-entendre (albeit forced double entendres) to be the same as actually SAYING, "HEY! SEX SEX SEX!! DOIN IT! DOIN IT!"

At which point, I started to doubt the marketability of the song. Thanks for snapping me out of that. I'm gonna send a copy to Pat Robertson, see what I can get going on the 700 Club.

the resident org preacher (not) does not think your lyrics are x-rated. they have been approved for airplay in the dirty south.

You laugh, but I'm quoting you on that.

Holdin you to it, deacon...