LIFE IN THE CHECKOUT LANE

Don’t know about you, but when we think Eagles, we think Wal-Mart. The archetypal SoCal band and the Arkansas-based retail giant have entered into a long-term strategic marketing agreement that will encompass sponsorship, exclusive releases and product visibility.

Wal-Mart will hold its annual dog and pony show for the Wall Street crowd next week in Teaneck, NJ, right across the Hudson from Manhattan (marking the first time the company has made its presentation outside of Arkansas), and in of the new arrangement, the Eagles will perform at the big dinner Monday night. Tuesday’s musical guest will be Garth Brooks, who signed a precedent-setting exclusive deal with the retailer in August of last year.

"Our partnership with the Eagles demonstrates how serious we are about giving our customers a choice of new, unique, world-class entertainment products," said Wal-Mart VP of Home Entertainment David Porter. "We are very pleased to be able to bring our customers an alliance with America's greatest rock icons."

But why Wal-Mart? Word has it that the Eagles—whose Don Henley has been an environmental activist for eons—were impressed by the retailer’s new environmental initiatives: the chain has announced its intentions to be supplied 100% percent by renewable energy, to create zero waste and to sell products that sustain the earth’s resources and environment.

Further details of the agreement shortly, as rumors fly that the Eagles’ next album will be a Wal-Mart exclusive for elephant bucks (to mix our animal metaphors). In 2003, the band and manager Irving Azoff agreed to a 30-day exclusive with Best Buy.