Bruce Springsteen: Wal-Mart Deal "A Mistake"

NEW YORK — The Boss is owning up to a mistake.

In an interview with The New York Times, Bruce Springsteen says he shouldn't have made a deal with Wal-Mart. This month, the store started exclusively selling a Springsteen greatest-hits CD.

Some fans were critical because Springsteen has been a longtime supporter of worker's rights, and Wal-Mart has faced criticism for its labor practices. Springsteen's team didn't vet the issue as closely as it should have, and that he "dropped the ball on it," he told the Times for a story to be published in Sunday editions and previewed on its Web site.

Springsteen went on to say: "It was a mistake. Our batting average is usually very good, but we missed that one. Fans will call you on that stuff, as it should be."

"Millions of Springsteen fans have counted on Wal-Mart over the years to deliver his music into their lives, and we will continue to offer those fans this 'Greatest Hits' exclusive and his other popular albums at unbeatable prices," Wal-Mart said in a statement, adding: "We are proud of the good jobs, benefits and career opportunities we provide to more than 1.4 million U.S. associates who choose to work at Wal-Mart and serve our customers every day."

Springsteen released his new CD "Working on a Dream" this week and is performing the halftime show at the Super Bowl.

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On the Net:

http://www.brucespringsteen.com

Comments

[johnnyjust]

Yes, evil Wal Mart. Employing 1.4 million people while liberals sit around whining about the lack of jobs and help no one.

[Topper23]

Yeah, Bruce, according to Forbes, you made over $55M in 2006.

Now tell off those fat cats.

[Bersa380]

BFD...Bruce screwed up & gave Walmart exclusive rights to sell a "greatest hits" compilation that no real fan will give a second thought to buying.

His true fans will overlook his mistake...the rest of you who don't like him anyway and consider him a sellout never "got it "in the first.place.

[Topper23]

There was never an "it" to get.

[bellabeach]

I love Bruce and he has the class to admit when he made a mistake!

[newdreams]

When did Bruce start going by the last name 'SpringstReen'? Headline needs to be spell checked.

Guess everybody makes a mistake every now and then. I give Bruce a lot of credit for coming out and acknowledging that marketing through WalMart supports bad labor practices and a product placement that supports trade imbalance.

[publanski]

Yeah, but his song sounded great today over the ending credits of "The Wrestler."

[trinity]

I just don't understand...how in the world did ordinary working class Americans survive before Walmart? From the pro-Walmart camp, you'd think that the company saved the American working class.

Plus I still don't get how The Boss didn't know about Walmart, it's all been down hill since Sam Walton passed on.

[ozwald888]

What a BUMMER!

I LOVE the Boss, but I won't set foot inside a wal-mart. I won't go in there, not even for an album by one of my favorite musicians.

I hope Bruce has learned a HUGE lesson.

NEVER, EVER, EVER, do business with a store run by fascists, it will play HELL upon his profits.......

It's also just plain WRONG!

[aramos]

Judas!!!

[SwingingFromCenter]

Its exclusivity to Wal-Mart is the only reason I won't even consider buying it.

As I refuse to set foot in a Wal-Mart, and the only way to get it is to go into a Wal-Mart, it makes it impossible for me to acquire it.

[ozwald888]

I'm with you!

[Rumplestiltskin]

Gosh. How could Mr. Working Class have been so silly?

[njgirl331]

I don't buy this mea culpa at all. Come on. I will never understand how much money any one celebrety/very successful person thinks they need to earn. Springstein has already earned hundreds of millions of dollars, and he needed to do this deal? Oh, and he has no control over the people that do his deals? Please . . .

[anonimost]

i hope that "stein" is a gross spelling error than a half-baked anti-semitic swipe.

on subject, springSTEEN should know better about wal-mart. perhaps he is out of touch himself.

[kirtlandpat]

I blame Yoko....I mean Patti. She screwed everything else up for him. I can only assume she did this, too.

[tlcutter]

The boss sold out many years ago. This time he was driven by the money, caught a little heat
( got busted on it) and played the now to often political play "I made a mistake".

[boogiewoman]

I could probably save a few bucks a week going to Wal-Mart. But I would rather give my hard earned money to a company who gives a rats about their employees. Bruce give up the money, you don't even need it. Practice what ypu preach.