Win / Wynn for Garth?
Rumors are flying around the music world about a suspected deal for retired country superstar Garth Brooks to come out of his rest and sign on for a sixteen week run at the Wynn’s Encore Theatre in Las Vegas. Local Las Vegas reporters are fueling the story. He has performed two free VIP shows in the Encore Theater in recent months.
GarthBrooks.com is promising that “Something Exciting Is Coming….” and that they’ll stream it live October 15th.
Will any new music or special re-packaging come with this announcement. Isn’t it time for an Apple / iTunes Deal? Garth has held out on putting his music on line (he has unusual ownership over his song rights) saying he wanted a way for entire albums to be sold not just singles. Apple recently announced such a format – a full album with interactive artwork. I could see a partnership with Apple and a Holiday release of “gPhones” preloaded with Garth’s newest song and all his albums in the new format. After all Garth is all about the repackaging. Fans would love it too.
UPDATE: 10/15/09:
When he announced his retirement in 2000, Garth said he wanted to spend more time with his three daughters. In his comments Thursday, he said he’s coming out of retirement because his children are older — and he misses the music.
CMT.com reports that Garth Brooks is coming out of retirement, he announced this morning during a press conference at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. He provided the confirmation just hours before a larger press conference taking place at 4 PM Eastern, 3 Central.
While not mentioning any specific city or venue, it has been widely reported that the 47-year-old entertainer will perform an extended engagement at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas. Following the announcement in Nashville, Garth shuttled approximately 40 members of the news media to the Nashville International Airport for a private flight to an undisclosed location for the afternoon press conference.
During the Nashville press conference, Garth also advocated expanded unionization within the music industry and the need for artists, songwriters, publishing companies and record labels to protect their copyrights on songs and recorded music.
“We need to take back the music,” he said. Then added, “We don’t realize how powerful we are. [Former Capitol Records Nashville chief] Jimmy Bowen told me that once, and he was absolutely right.”
Garth also alluded to the possibility of strong measures to prove the point.
“If the world goes silent for a day, we will realize how powerful we are,” he said. He also noted, “Athletics have got it right. Until we unionize, we have no power.”
