Garth Brooks is undoubtedly a country music legend, and you can even argue that he revolutionized the genre in the early 90s. So that begs the question: where would Garth rank all time if he finally broke down and put his music on all streaming platforms?
Right now, you can only access Garth’s music on Amazon Music, which is definitely the little fish in the streaming compared to juggernauts like Apple Music or Spotify. If users of those platforms want to listen to his iconic music, they are forced to settle for inferior cover artists. In the streaming era, you can’t help but think that the relevance of the “Friends in Low Places” star will inevitably fade. Garth signed an exclusive deal with Amazon back in 2016, and he explained his decision in an interview with RJ Curtis at the Country Radio Seminar: “The fact is that Amazon is a retailer as well. So you can sign your streaming deal, but part of that streaming deal is to move those physical units so the songwriters get paid.”
Garth was one of the biggest stars of the 1990s of any genre; songs like “Friends in Low Places” still hit the same today as they did 30 years ago. He has over 170 million sold albums and he is the only artist to ever have nine certified diamond albums by the RIAA. The numbers don’t lie, Garth brought country music to the mainstream crowd in a way few had done before him. But when people have discussions on who the “GOAT” of country music is, our minds immediately go to the George Straits, Alan Jacksons, and Keith Whitleys of the world. The love for an artist gets passed down through generations. Parents have an enormous impact on their kids’ music preferences. That said; we still have to adapt to modern technology to pass down our favorite songs; kids today aren’t spinning their dad’s old CDs. Garth was the biggest artist in the world at one point, and even though he still manages to sell out stadium shows, we aren’t seeing the multi-generational appeal for his music that Alan Jackson and George Strait have enjoyed.
I’m not saying Garth is the GOAT by any means. People like George Strait are in a world of their own; you can’t argue with sixty number-ones. However, as big as he was in his time, it’s a bit baffling that he’s not in the conversation. Garth paved the way for an entirely new style of country music. The pop and rock elements he infused ushered in a new paradigm of country music popularity. He attracted the unbridled ire of the “that’s not country crowd” and still went down as one of the country-wst dudes to ever do it. The tragic irony is, that despite being known as a trendsetter for most of his career, his inability to reach a younger demographic now is killing his legacy as a country music all-timer.
Hits like “Friends in Low Places,” “The Thunder Rolls,” and “The Dance” will never get old and will never lose their magic touch. But how long until his other great songs like “She’s Every Woman,” and “Wild Horses” begin to lose their relevance? Garth is one of the most successful touring artists of all time, quite possibly the most electrifying entertainer of all time with 22 number ones to his name. He should be on the Mount Rushmore of country music. It is impossible to tell the story of country music without talking about Garth Brooks, yet we’re watching him slowly fall out of the “GOAT” conversation because outside of a few songs, his music just isn’t surviving the test of time. It’s hard to watch when the solution is so obvious, but here we are. Even now, Garth announced on his Facebook Live “Inside Studio G” that you can only buy his latest album in a box set with previous albums that most people probably already own. It will eventually be available for streaming, but again, on only Amazon. So once again, he’s not even giving his new music a chance, and a new Garth renaissance feels farther away than ever.
Garth Brooks is one of the best to ever do it. He needs to break down and give his music a chance to thrive in today’s world. I understand what he is trying to accomplish in his deal with Amazon, but all he’s doing is hurting himself. He’s a bonafide hall of famer, and everyone deserves to know it.
