Garth Brooks, the iconic country music legend, known for his chart-topping hits and immense influence on the genre, has kept his extensive discography off from the world’s most popular streaming platforms.
In this blog, we delve into the reasons behind Garth Brooks’ absence on Spotify and explore the implications of such decisions in the contemporary music landscape.
So, read on to know more about his zero presence on Spotify and Apple Music.
Also, read: Who Owns Spotify?
Garth Brooks Explains Why He Refused To Allow His Music On Spotify
When it comes to streaming, Garth Brooks flatly refused to allow his music on Spotify or Apple, citing severe compensation issues and other misaligned values.
Brooks, one of the most successful musicians and the best solo artist in history, vividly explains his aversion to Spotify or Apple music. He mentioned the reason behind striking a deal with Amazon Music by saying that his vision closely aligns with that of Amazon Music. He also added that he values radio play more since it helped him in his early career.
Garth Brooks’ reason for staying away from streaming sites is quite convincing. He wanted to have complete creative control over where his music gets featured. The choice was up to him, and so, after years of resisting all the streaming services, he finally cracked an exclusive deal with Amazon Music in October 2016 that remains active even today. Despite severe persistence from streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, he refused to broaden his horizons.
Brooks preferred to have greater control over the music distribution. In the initial phase, only selected songs were available for streaming, but later, all 16 albums were available for streaming. Rumor has it that there was also a pay factor, which eventually won out when it came down to Amazon Music.
Overall, we can conclude that Brooks’ absence from streaming platforms reflects the complexities of the music industry and the varied priorities and considerations of the artists regarding the distribution process.
Is Garth Losing Out By Not Being On Multiple Platforms?
There is a mixed opinion regarding Garth’s loss of access to various platforms. According to me, an artist has the full liberty to do whatever they want with their art form.
Suppose other streaming sites come to him with enticing and captivating offers that will satiate his ideological preferences alongside the financial part. In that case, he might give it a thought.
Otherwise, it is unlikely that he will change his mind and stick to Amazon Music. So, for the die-hard fans out there, get hold of Amazon Music and relish his chart topping songs. There is also another way, and that is the physical purchase method.
In 2014, he launched his online music and streaming store, GhostTunes. This showcased his entire trajectory, ensured royalty payments for artists, and also had an impact by highlighting his commitment to supporting his fellow musicians.
Will Garth Brooks Eventually Get On All Streaming Services?
Whether or not Garth Brooks signs with every music streaming service depends on whether these platforms make an incredibly alluring offer and at the same time values his ideologies. He might consider arranging with them later if they can tempt him with an offer that is too good to refuse. It is unlikely that his availability will extend beyond Amazon Music if no notable changes occur. As a loyal follower, you might still need to use Amazon Music to satiate your music cravings.
Closure
As we come to the end of the blog we now know why Garth Brooks adamantly refused to grant streaming sites a license to use his music. Brooks has stuck to his exclusive deal with Amazon despite constant pressure from music streaming behemoths like Spotify and Apple Music, including direct approaches from Spotify CEO Daniel Ek.
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