At long last, a new AC/DC album is on the way (untitled), and the big news is that it will only be available at Wal-Mart stores. This is more evidence that distribution paradigms are rapidly changing, and that the labels continue to lose control over their domains.
This news comes on the heels of the news that new 3-disc Journey album, Revelation, sold over 45,000 copies in its first three days in another Wal-Mart only distribution strategy. According to the New York Times, Front Line Management’s Irving Azoff is predicting one-week sales of 80,000. As he pointed out, "With the downturn, the labels couldn’t match the marketing commitments that Wal-Mart could make. It was well in excess of anything a label could do.”
Some are saying that price is a big driver here ($11.98 for Revelation), but most of us know better. Journey (like the Eagles and AC/DC) is a venerable Classic Rock brand with legions of loyal fans. And as importantly, the traditional relationships between artists-labels-radio-distribution are undergoing major change, allowing this new plan to be very successful.
Sure hope AC/DC’s album art conforms to Wal-Mart standards, because the sales numbers will most definitely be strong.
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Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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