GhostTunes
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Digital music marketplace |
| Founded | September 2014 |
| Founder | Garth Brooks, Randy Bernard, Chris Webb |
| Defunct | March 3, 2017 |
| Fate | Integrated into Amazon Music |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Digital music marketplace and online library |
GhostTunes was a digital music marketplace and online library created by American country artist Garth Brooks, along with Randy Bernard and Chris Webb. Debuting in September 2014, the platform offered singles and full albums from a variety of musicians, including the complete collection of Brooks' studio works. Distinct from competitors like the iTunes Store, GhostTunes empowered individual record labels to determine their preferred sales formats—whether entire albums or individual tracks—all delivered as 320 kbit/s MP3 files, with a focus on equitable royalty payment distribution. Its digital library functionality synchronized music across multiple devices, allowing users to maintain a unified music collection regardless of where purchases were made.
On March 3, 2017, the GhostTunes platform was integrated into Amazon Music.
History
In response to public disputes surrounding music streaming,[1] Garth Brooks launched GhostTunes in 2014 to coincide with his return to releasing albums and performing live. The service entered a beta phase on September 4, 2014, followed by a full public release two months afterward.
Initially designed to exclusively feature Brooks' own music, GhostTunes eventually expanded its catalog to include over 10 million tracks from diverse artists.[2] The first offerings consisted of Brooks’ entire digital catalog—available online for the first time—alongside his exclusive release Man Against Machine. Prior to his collaboration with Amazon in 2016, GhostTunes remained the exclusive digital outlet for Brooks’ albums.[3] The brand name "GhostTunes" originated from combining Brooks’ first initial "G" with the concept of "hosting" the music platform ("G-host").
In October 2016, Brooks revealed his decision to join Amazon Music's "Music Unlimited" streaming service and expressed uncertainty regarding GhostTunes’ continuation. By March 3, 2017, GhostTunes discontinued its services and redirected its user base to Amazon Music.
Desktop
GhostTunes provided an online music marketplace and library where users could instantly play purchased songs and albums within the application. Additionally, it supported syncing music directly into a user's iTunes account, facilitating a seamless cross-platform music collection.
Mobile
The GhostTunes app was available for both iOS and Android platforms. It enabled users to purchase music within the app and download tracks directly onto their mobile devices. The app also integrated with users' existing local music libraries, merging downloaded content with GhostTunes acquisitions for offline playback.
Royalties and pricing
Central to Brooks' professional focus on royalties, GhostTunes highlighted practices that favored artists. According to Brooks, the platform approached music with deep respect, granting musicians autonomy to market their creations as they wished. Record labels were given the option to sell either individual tracks or entire albums, with flexibility or exclusivity applied to album sales.
GhostTunes secured distribution contracts with prominent rights holders such as Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and The Orchard. These collaborators returned 80% of earnings to artists and songwriters, surpassing the conventional 70% industry payout. The platform’s pricing model enabled certain albums, including Sam Hunt's Montevallo, to be offered at reduced rates ($6.99 compared to $9.99 on iTunes), although most price points remained aligned with other services.
Critical reception
Harley Brown from Billboard described GhostTunes as "a hybrid of Spotify and eMusic". Jonathan Robles of Variance Magazine regarded it as "beneficial for both parties," emphasizing its commitment to full digital album sales in a market dominated by singles. John Cook of R-tools Technology recommended checking out GhostTunes for its distinctive approach compared to other platforms.
On the other hand, Zack O'Malley Greenburg writing for Forbes criticized GhostTunes for lacking streaming capabilities and relying heavily on Brooks’ exclusive catalog, asserting that "streaming represents the future of the music business." Glenn Peoples from Billboard pointed out that consumer loyalty toward established outlets like iTunes and Amazon restricted GhostTunes’ market traction. Despite these comparisons, CEO Randy Bernard clarified that GhostTunes was intended as an alternative option rather than a direct challenger.
See also
External links
- ↑ Leahey, Andrew. "Garth Brooks Weighs In on Spotify Controversy, Calls YouTube 'The Devil'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ↑ "Garth Brooks' GhostTunes takes on iTunes". foxbusiness.com. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
- ↑ "Garth Brooks Creates Digital Music Partnership". AP. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- Android (operating system) software
- Download websites
- IOS software
- Online music stores of the United States
- Retail companies established in 2014
- Internet properties established in 2014
- Software companies based in Tennessee
- Music streaming services
- Defunct software companies of the United States
- 2014 establishments in Tennessee
- 2014 establishments in the United States