Hear Garth Brooks' Trailblazing Country Tunes (?)

[Steve Feldman]

That's the title of a CNN article on their website right now. It starts out:

"Garth Brooks is a pivotal figure in the history of country music, no matter how much some country purists would like to deny it...."

I got a kick out of this one.
http://windowsmedia.msn.com/MediaGuide/artistinfo/artistinfo.asp?name=Garth%20Brooks&p_id=P+++++1535

For you 'purists' out there

[JB Arnold]

Actually, If you look at that, it's exactly right-Brooks success changed the parameters by which the industry measured success. Like it or not, Garth is the guy who showed that something CALLED country could ship multiple millions of copies. On more than one occasion. And that is now the yardstick the record companies are using, unrealistic as it may be. The result is that hard core Country acts that were previously considered wildly successful now can't get a deal, even though their sales have continued as before. Folk artisits and jazz players have been dealing with this for years, and fight it by forming their own labels and keeping ALL the money.

So, really, that DOES make Brooks a central figure in the history of Country music. For a long time it was (and still is) enjoyed by a group that loves the soul of the style, but also relished the fact that it was like a little secret, the masses didn't like it, and it was kind of just theirs. Brooks changed that dynamic. Mass appeal is now required to get airplay and demographics rule the roost. Very few of the old Country artists still have deals, and those are fading fast. Garth brought a lot of new blood into the tent-keeping them here is requiring some compromises that are unpleasant to many-and thus the proliferation of Classic Country stations.

In the article they even state that a lot of the authenticity and traditionalism have been lost. They don't say that's a GOOD thing. They just state it happened. And that is undeniably true.

For the Classic Country fan,that's a bad thing. Although you wonder if the labels were going to keep supporting the Country acts much longer anyway-the demographics aren't what they're looking for.

So while the results are unpleasant, the fact is there. When you look at where Country/Pop is today, Brooks is ground zero. That's either bad or good, depending on your tastes, tolerance to change, and if you're making any money off of it. I kind of like it, but that's just me.

And you know what? Sooner or later, the right combination of talent and timing will bring forth the artist who causes it all to swing back.

John

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Better Late than Never!
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel

[Ron Page]

I guess that explians why I haven't had even the slightest interest in any of his albums since NO FENCES.

Sorry, I don't buy it. They highjacked the genre category and filled it with something other than Country music. Many, many country fans -- perhaps not a double-platinum worth-- but many agree.

And what's this post-Merle Haggard bull$hit?

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HagFan<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Ron Page on 16 May 2000 at 02:26 PM.]</p></FONT>

[Steve Feldman]

Welp - Maybe it was the way they phrased it....

[JB Arnold]

Hi Ron!

I agree with you-that's exactly what wound up happening, once those kind of sales numbers showed up.

And unfortunately the real country fans aren't strong enough in number to show up on the marketing radar right now.

(I don't get the post Hag crack either He's still selling LOTS of records)

Once again, I'm not saying there's anything good about it...just that it is.

John



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Better Late than Never!
www.johnbarnold.com/pedalsteel

[Donny Hinson]

No doubt about it, Garth is a success. They say you can't argue with it, either. And I guess you could make a real good case that Garth is the "Elvis" of country music. But the producers don't want to face the fact that he is a "phenomenon". Once he and the "other phenomenon" (Shania) are off their peak, I'd guess that it'll be many years before someone tops their sales (just like it was with Elvis). But that won't stop the producers from their endless pursuit of another pivoting...er...uh...pivotal figure!

[Ron Page]

Well said guys.

Lest you wonder, I do realize that Hag's popularity never equalled Garth in sheer numbers. However, a quick scan of the used CD site inventories will tell you that Hag buyers buy for keeps.

Garth is pop culture, but he's not for everyone. If we hang around long enough someone will rediscover the traditional country audience -- someone who doesn't need double platinum status on each release, but wants steady money over the long haul.

As for Garth, more power to him. I wish him and the rest well.

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HagFan