AC/DC become latest veteran act to team up with Wal-Mart

AC/DC has become the latest veteran music act to join with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) to release a new album solely with the retailer, according to the Wall Street Journal. The currently untitled album is expected later in the year and will be the first album of new material from the Australian rockers since 2000, while a tour in support is also expected to follow the new release. Although slated for release solely in Wal-Mart stores, the album is distributed by the band's longtime label Columbia Records, a part of Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

AC/DC follows a number of large selling artists: Garth Brooks, the Eagles, and Journey. The Eagles famously released their first new album in 28 years with Wal-Mart and according to Nielsen Soundscan for Billboard, Long Road Out of Eden has sold almost 3 million copies in the United States. Journey released an album of new material and newly recorded hits last month with Wal-Mart. In addition to this coup from Wal-Mart, AC/DC continues to remain one of the only acts not present in Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) iTunes Store, the largest music retailer.

The band's music has been available in digital from from Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) VCast Music service since March 2007, but only in album form -- a format iTunes does not support. However, AC/DC digital downloads were not available on Verizon phones as full albums were too large. The new album from the band certainly has excellent prospects with Wal-Mart, but an even greater coup for the retailer would be to score the digital catalog for sale on the company's own digital store.