Alexa, Play Something Country: Amazon Dir./Amazon Music Ryan Redington was today's (2/24) Daily Featured Speaker at CRS 2017. The eight-year company veteran recounted Amazon's history in the music space, explained the speech recognition technology behind the company's Echo and Alexa, and offered insight into Amazon's partnership with Garth Brooks. "There was one artist who had yet to move into the streaming space and he just happened to be the best-selling solo artist of all time," Redington said, noting Amazon wanted to capitilize on the growth of music streaming. "There's no better way than going out and doing a deal with Garth Brooks." The benefits seemed obvious in part because of Amazon's strength with country listeners. Users across all of Amazon's music platforms listen more to country than any other genre. Further, 16 of the top 50 most-listened-to songs on Amazon are country and 18 of the top 50 albums are country.