AC/DC in a Wal-Mart Commercial – 2nd Sign of the Apocalypse? [VIDEO]

I don't watch TV much - aside from a select few favorite series (Dexter, Justified, Flight of the Concords) and football -  there's just nothing there for me. As little as I watch, I've still managed to see several successful (or formerly successful) artists allow their music to be used to pimp products (Led Zep, Lenny Kravitz, and Wilco come to mind). I get it...people are stealing your music online now, you have to make a buck somehow.

My question is...once you allow this to happen, is your credibility as a musician and artist damaged? Look at the Stones… Has anybody cared about their new music since "Start Me Up"? The tour for "Tattoo You" was sponsored by Jovan, so, all of a sudden, the public knew the Stones were only about the money. It’s hard to enjoy the new tunes when it’s no longer a band doing drugs, searching for greatness, but a corporation as big and bad as any in the Fortune 500. Artists are supposed to be PURE, right?!?

Thankfully, there's still a notion among some musicians and fans that rock 'n' roll is sacred, and that artists who sell their music to commercial sponsors are less talented or less deserving of fame and fortune. AC/DC has always been one of the bands that respected their musical output (as one dimensional as it may be) AND their fans.

So, imagine my surprise, when in the middle of a college football game, I see a Wal-Mart commercial with "Back in Black" blaring in the background! WTF?!?!?!
How dare the Corporate thugs at Wal-Mart blaspheme the name of AC/DC?!?!?! Well...chances are, they didn't. The list of bands who don’t allow their music to be used in commercial dwindles by the day, no doubt sped up by the continuing decline in sales revenue from recorded music. And, if you recall, AC/DC's last album "Black Ice" was sold as a Wal-Mart exclusive. Some major bucks were exchanged for this exclusive...and I'm sure an agreement to allow the discount giant access to the Thunder From Down Under's catalog to use in schleping their wares was in the fine print...it's possible that "Back in Black" is only the beginning.

So...do we add AC/DC to the list of Rock sellouts, or is it just a case of some guys trying to make a living? What do you think — is it okay for bands to sell legendary songs for use in commercials, or should the music be left alone?