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Brooks especially thanked Sony Music chief Doug Morris for giving him not one but two giant career opportunities.

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Garth Brooks Announces Album Deal with RCA Nashville, New Tour, First-Ever Digital Sales
Sony Nashville and Garth Brooks at last put the rampant speculation to rest this morning at their joint press release.

Brooks announced that he'd be putting out a new album on his Pearl imprint via RCA Nashville (due around Black Friday in November, with new music expected "within the next two months"); that his catalog, which has never been available digitally, would be sold online within a few weeks at GarthBrooks.com exclusively; and that he'd be mounting a big new tour (dates also TBA, with the first city to be announced on 7/15).

Sony will distribute and market the set, while RCA Nashville will work it at Country radio. Sony's role in the digital piece of the puzzle remains unclear, as does the question of whether the new album will be downloadable via iTunes at any point.

Sony Music chief Doug Morris joined Brooks for the announcement. "Garth Brooks is one of the most accomplished and beloved artists of all time. We are thrilled he is joining the Sony Music family," Morris said. Brooks thanked Morris for giving him not one but two giant career opportunities.

"Garth redefined the parameters of what country music could be and what it could accomplish," proclaimed Sony Nashville chief Gary O. "We are beyond proud that he's chosen to begin the next chapter of an extraordinary career with us."

By the by, only Elvis and The Beatles have sold more albums in the U.S.

Brooks said that having 14 years to raise his kids was the best thing that ever happened to him, and now that they've grown up he's looking forward to "eating Taco Bell at 3am on tour again."

He added he's talking to TicketMaster about his forthcoming tour, but that his site is also handling ticketing. "Our stance on social media," which he's been avoiding, he added, "is not quantity but quality."

Much ink has been spilled in the last couple of days about Brooks' decision to cancel five sold-out Ireland shows rather than cut the dates to three as requested by residents near the venue. He sold 240k when the first three dates went on sale in Ireland, but hundreds of thousands still wanted tickets; Brooks noted that 75% of Irish ticket buyers this time out are 25 or under and heard the music from their folks.

He says these shows would require 12 days of load-in (it's been moving across the sea in a container ship) and is modeled on Elvis' comeback shows; he hopes to resolve the matter and remove the "dark cloud."

For those unfamiliar with his history, after his Capitol deal expired, all of Garth's catalog reverted to him; he released a massively successful Walmart-only CD/DVD box set (affordably priced on his own Pearl imprint) late last year, which debuted with 190k and has sold 885k RTD. He replied to a question at the press conference by noting that his forthcoming release would not be a Walmart exclusive but would go to all retail.

Chris Gaines couldn't be reached for comment.

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