Quote:
Originally posted by Wildcat
She's ruthless.
But you don't become the Queen Of Pop by being nice and caring  . |
Garth Brooks is far worse than Taylor Swift. Swift allows her fans to download singles for $1.30. Brooks doesn't allow anyone to do anything but download his entire album. He started his on digital music website, Ghost Tunes, so he could force his fans to this, though he's attracted very few other artists, and hasn't endeared himself to any fans, former or new (not many returned after he un-retired, even though he did a ton of promo). Admittedly, his concerts are still doing well, but his attempt to transform the digital music industry to the way he wanted it to be completely backfired.
Man vs. Machine is a major flop by his standards -- 600,000 sold at retail, and he won't say how many he sold at his problem plagued website though he certified it Platinum; and it only produced one #19 and one #34 song on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart. Though the Country Music Audience still wanted to hear a few songs from a class act like George Strait, they had little interest in hearing any new material from Brooks. Then the only way you can "stream" Brooks' music is AFTER you have purchased his entire album.
Brooks had a lot to do with encouraging the record labels to stop producing singles and forcing fans to buy entire albums for $20 to hear one song back in the 1997-2004 time range. He exerted a lot of power over the entire music industry, well beyond Nashville, and in his mind I think he expected he would change things back to the way they were when he retired. While I worry free streaming services will lead to this, Brooks doesn't have the clout now to force this change back to buying albums only again alone. So what Brooks expects and wants is far worse than what Taylor is asking for.
Not to even mention that being allowed to photograph the world's most popular popstar's show is almost payment in and of itself because it gives you an opportunity to take tons of photos that you can then sell. 
