BRISBANE, Calif., and BENTONVILLE, Ark. – On Wednesday, Wal-Mart Stores announced the launch of Wal-Mart Soundcheck, a new, original music performance series dedicated to bringing exclusive, cutting-edge and popular music content to customers both in stores and online at www.walmart.com.
Wal-Mart Soundcheck “gives customers an insider’s look at emerging and superstar musicians and bands performing four to six songs in an intimate studio setting, as well as exclusive, in-depth interviews with the artists,” says the press release (ed note: Sounds like Bell Canada’s Live at the Orange Lounge) The performances are featured every month in stores on Wal-Mart TV and the HDTV wall in the Electronics department, and are also available digitally to view and download at Walmart.com. The artist selection is a combination of these performers covering an array of music genres, including rock, pop, punk, country, hip-hop and R&B.
"Wal-Mart Soundcheck allows our customers to take their music experience at Wal-Mart to a whole new level, both in stores and online, with original performances from some of their favorite artists," said Kevin Swint, Wal- Mart’s divisional merchandising manager for digital media. "This unprecedented, multi-channel music offering is yet another opportunity to further deepen our relationship with customers, and provide an intimate setting for them to see and hear top musicians."
Punk pop fivesome Yellowcard and rock band Switchfoot officially opened the Wal-Mart Soundcheck series beginning today. Yellowcard’s five-song acoustic set features tracks from the highly anticipated, newly released album Lights and Sounds. Switchfoot’s five-song electric set highlights popular tracks off their multi-platinum Nothing is Sound album.
Performances on Wal-Mart Soundcheck are co-sponsored through a media partnership with Gillette Fusion razors, and are set to tape at various recording studios throughout the year.
Several two- to three-minute sneak previews of each performance will air nationwide in more than 3,000 stores on the HDTV wall in the Electronics department (Wal-Mart has one of the largest private communications systems in the world). A viewing event of the complete 30- to 40-minute performance on Wal-Mart TV will take place every few weeks on a Friday night. Wal-Mart will also promote Soundcheck performances on both Wal-Mart Radio and Wal-Mart TV.
The full 30- to 40-minute performance and exclusive interviews are available to stream online at Walmart.com at no cost; audio tracks of the performance can also be downloaded for 88 cents each. The kick-off performances are now available online at www.walmart.com/soundcheck
