The theme song and the Texas Rangers have found their groove. This postseason, the band Creed’s upbeat music has kept them going, and other people are starting to adopt their listening style
The band lead by Scott Stapp has been a big part of the Rangers’ greatest season in years as they secured their first American League Championship Series appearance since 2011. The band’s 1999 hit song “Higher,” which is a favorite of the team, has been played loudly before Rangers games at Globe Life Field, and Creed has acknowledged that the team’s success has brought their back catalog back into style.
In the Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth area, album sales for the band’s discography have increased by 16% during the last four tracking weeks (September 8–October 5). Luminate, an insights firm that monitors music and entertainment data, says as much. “Higher” had an increase in on-demand streams (+7) locally, but there haven’t been any notable increases in streaming nationwide.
Pitcher Andrew Heaney of the Rangers claims that throughout the second half of the season, the team began to have more fun and play Creed music, with spectators chanting the lyrics. The club had increased momentum going into the postseason thanks to the more relaxed approach.
“You tend to stick with what works when things are going well,” said Adam Harrison, the artist manager at Full Stop Management, who represents Big Boi among other musicians. “Humans have superstitions. You will continue if the music continues to play after you win. Music and sports have a connection.
“All Night,” a song by Atlanta-based rapper and producer Big Boi, was used as the Tampa Bay Lightning’s unofficial theme song during their championship run two years ago. In addition to receiving more streams at the time, Big Boi received an invitation to return to Amalie Arena this week to host a pregame party.
Harrison stated, “When a sports team chooses [their music] as an anthem, it’s beneficial to the artist.” “When we visit that town and support a particular team, we experience love.” It is possible to build on those occasions.
The Rangers are the most recent illustration of how the power of moments in sports can ignite excitement for once-popular or terrible tunes. Another MLB team, the New York Mets, saw this firsthand with Timmy Trumpet’s “Narco”song, which closer Edwin Diaz trots out to during his pitching entrance. Thanks to social media, “Narco,” which went viral, had an increase in streaming last summer.
It’s unclear how long the Rangers can keep climbing higher, as they’re set to face the defending champion Houston Astros, which are making their seventh straight trip to the ALCS. But backed by a productive pitching rotation and stars like Marcus Semien, the Rangers hope to reach their first World Series since 2011.