August 23, 2005
The dance
Posted by Stacy Chandler at August 23, 2005 2:20 AMIf ever two entities richly deserved each other ...
From The Washington Post ...
Garth Brooks, one of the most successful recording artists of all time, won't be selling his CDs just anywhere any longer. If you want a Brooks album, you'll soon have to go through Wal-Mart. In an arrangement that advances a recording-industry trend, Brooks has agreed to sell his work exclusively through Wal-Mart, its Web site and Sam's Clubs, the Wal-Mart-owned chain of warehouse stores.
Interestingly, Garth's not coming out with anything new (except a box set with a few previously unreleased tracks). This deal applies to his still hot-selling back catalog. So when everyone else sells out their current stock of "Ropin' the Wind" and the others, that's it. Oh, the humanity!
But seriously, folks (tip your waitresses!) ... I'm definitely not liking this trend of exclusive releases. I don't mind so much one store getting a disc, say, a week early, or carrying a version of the disc with an extra song or two maybe. But these deals that last many, many months (yeah, you, Bob Dylan) or, as in this case, indefinitely -- peh. Smells to me like an excuse to jack up prices. Whether that's the result of this trend or not, it's definitely not a decision made with the consumers -- and by "consumers" I mean "fans" -- in mind. Artists have to make a buck, too, and I'm down with that (which is why I've never, ever, ever downloaded music illegally. That, and because I'm too dumb to know how.). But deals like these just make the consumer jump through unneccessary hoops to get to the music they want -- and some may not bother.
So in protest I hereby resolve NOT to go to Wal-Mart and NOT to buy Garth Brooks CDs. Oh ... wait. I never do those things anyway. Never mind!
I always figured that Garth had sold his soul to the devil. I just didn't count on the devil wearing a blue vest and rolling back low prices everyday.
Posted by: James at August 23, 2005 9:18 AMYeah, this is another one of those "well, it's not going to affect me" sorts of things. As long as it's only these mega-stars that do this kinda stuff (yeah, even Bob Dylan), I'm not too worried about it. If I've learned anything from technology, it's that the days of mega-stars are coming to an end. And if I've learned anything from pop radio, it's that the days of mega-stars meaning anything to me are WELL over. (Well, except for the oldies -- Dylan, the Beatles, the Stones, etc.)
Posted by: larry at August 23, 2005 9:29 AMGarth who?
Posted by: Jim Pipkin at August 23, 2005 11:49 AMI gotta defend Dylan here. He's always looked after his financial interests but he's always put the music first too. The Starbucks deal is a brilliant way to get this (channeling Greil Marcus) "old weird music" in the face of people who don't even know it exists. Some freaky kid 40 odd years ago singing old folk songs, completely contrary to the smooth corporate posing of the franchise and he's got 'em spruiking this rough as guts stuff. Pretty subversive, I would say.
Posted by: Amanda at August 24, 2005 5:29 PMJim -- I cracked up so hard! "Garth who," indeed.
Amanda -- thanks for stopping by. Damn girl, you're turning my head on this one... Dylan kinda laughing behind Starbucks' back making them sell his old stuff?? I hope that's true, but either way I kinda like the idea.
Posted by: larry at August 24, 2005 5:37 PMI stop by all the time ... ;-)
Thought of you the other day too, was watching the Return to Sin City dvd. That Hickory Wind Keef does is a killer ...
Bob's clearly shoring up his legacy and looking back. Chronicles, the Scorsese doco, more Bootleg stuff, constantly touring state fairs and little towns. There's some nice irony in starting out at *coffee houses* in the Village and ending up at Starbucks too ...
Really, he's been on Columbia for 45 years, that's no mom and pop independent for-the-love-of-it outfit either, don't really see the difference in using Starbucks -- except in a good way, an opportunity to reach the sheeple.
Posted by: Amanda at August 24, 2005 7:30 PMExcept the sheeple (tee hee) in towns without a Starbucks --yep, there IS such a thing!
Posted by: Stacy at August 24, 2005 9:31 PMFor the past decade I have dedicated my life to proving that Wal-Mart is the anti-Christ. And now my work is done. I feel a little lost now that I have nothing to do, but I guess I can spend my time watching various Wal-Marts be smited by tremendous strikes of lightning.
Posted by: Sharon at August 25, 2005 8:42 AMOr trampled by thundering herds of huge creatures wearing pink stretch pants. Got behind one the other day that looked like a rhino charging in there...such haunches!!
Of course, I wasn't IN Wal-Mart. I was listening to Dylan in the Starbucks across the parking lot.
Posted by: Jim Pipkin at August 25, 2005 7:54 PM
