Walmart Launches Online Music CD Creation

Wal-Mart has launched new online custom CD creation service
that lets internet userscreate their own mix CDs
in the U.S.. The new "easy-to-use, no-download-required" music service
allows customers to select individual songs from a deep
music catalog of over 500,000 tracks. The service costs $4.62 for a 3 song CD - which includes
packaging - plus $.88 cents for each additional song, up to a maximum
of 20 total songs ($19.58).

Kevin Swint, Walmart.com’s director of media categories said, "Whether customers make custom CDs for their favorite road
trip, birthday gifts for family and friends, or creative wedding
favors, the service draws from an expansive catalog of hot new music
releases, rock, pop, country, rap, R&B, and Wal-Mart exclusives to
satisfy all music fans."

The Billboards blog commented on this service by saying:

"This strategic move could prove to be
popular for those still without broadband connections or who are not
savvy with CD burning themselves….But, people without computers will
be left behind….Kudos to Walmart for being the first to market and
creating new revenue opportunities for the industry …I expect other
retailers and music vendors to copy the idea very soon (Starbucks will
probably be first!)  It makes much more economic sense when compared to
deploying kiosks, because the overhead is much lower…less
connectivity, installation and maintenance costs at each store.

Walmart CD Service
Billboard Blog Comment