Has Wal-Mart Destroyed Music?
I have a hate/hate relationship with Wal-Mart. I mean, I boycotted the store for *years.* As the price of everything in this world continues to rise, I found myself breaking down and giving in to the world's largest retailer. I still make it policy to shop at Wal-Mart on rare occasions. One thing I've never compromised is my refusal to buy music at Wal-Mart. You read that correct: I never buy music at Wal-Mart. This means I don't own the new AC/DC album and I won't I guess. Wal-Mart largely censors artists and I think this is a load of bullshit. I also think it's bullshit that so many artists (like AC/DC and Guns n' Roses) are going to exclusive deals with places like Wal-Mart and Best Buy.
Anyway, SIXX: AM recently did a commercial pimping the joys of Wal-Mart music. The pitch is for Motley Crue's Saints of Los Angeles and the song playing is "Mutherfucker of the Year." I get that Motley chose that song as the second single form their new album, but give me a break. The song is 100% edited when purchased at Wal-Mart! To me, there is zero point in listening to edited music. It's not what the artist intended - or performed. Maybe I'm being overly picky on this Sunday afternoon, but the whole thing just seems absurd to me. Watch the commercial below.


Reader Comments (11)
My Walmart doesn't really sell music anyway. it only carries three genres: rap,latin pop, and country. yup. good selection.I assume this is a regional thing. Maybe yours is better.
Allyson, if you want to buy AC/DC's Black Ice, which I highly recommend, you can now buy it from Amazon.com. So much for Walmarts exlusive on this one.
On the positive note, it looks as though the success of Ac/dC are going to get us new material from Kiss.
What's best for everyone, I think, would be what Metallica did and put the CD with their ticket on a presale. I think it's win/win for everyone. Perhaps, maybe artists could even put out special editions, which again, might deter people from the illegal downloads.
as for it no longer being an exclusive deal, well look at the bigger picture. they sold over a million copies in 2 weeks. walmart also put up displays and sold a ton of older ac/dc releases, tshirts, etc. they sold so much in fact that if they were new releases that would have been in billboard's top 200, probably all in the top 50 or less. sounds like a good thing for the band.
normally i don't buy music at walmart but yes i proudly did buy "black rain." if you don't want to that's your choice. you could always buy it from ac/dc's website and now apparently from amazon (which i'm sure was always a part of the deal). i really don't think this was unplanned or a surprise for walmart. it would have to have been agreed upon and in the contract. to think otherwise is ludicrous. what i find funny is that so many people on this board gripe about things saying how important it is to support music and buy cd's, don't download blah, blah, blah. then a band goes out and makes the best deal for themselves and now people gripe about that too. you can't have it both ways. these bands don't owe us anything personally except for having good music on their cd. that's it. if you don't like it you don't have to, but you do have to deal with it. once again it's late so goodbye.