According to a Billboard report, the future of Warner Music Group artists appearing in Rock Band is in jeopardy. The report indicates that MTV and the home of some of the world's biggest artists simply can't come to agreement about, you guessed it, money.
Last summer, Warner Music Group chairman publicly stated that he didn't feel labels (his in particular) were making enough dough off of these here newfangled music games. Billboard reports that while MTV and WMG have trade offers, they've yet to reach a compromise.
Again, WMG is home to a frightening number of labels and artists, and the loss could be a pretty big hit to the Rock Band series. Feel free to peruse WMG's site to see what kind of damage we're talking about here. It's interesting to note that Metallica is a Warner Act, more specifically, on Elektra; the Activision-published Guitar Hero: Metallica hits stores this month.
On one hand, I just want to shake all parties involved and say "figure it the f**k out! I want artists X, Y, and Z in Rock Band stat!" But on the other, the business of money sure can get trick, and with Variety reporting that MTV is already losing cash on the Rock Band hardware, perhaps it's not quite that easy. Admittedly, the Rock Band franchise needs the music more than Warner needs its artists to be in the game. It is, however, in the best interest of both parties to come to an agreement.
So yeah ... figure it the f**k out, guys. I want artists X, Y, and Z in Rock Band. Stat.
[Via Variety]
Contest:
8:00 AM on 03.03.2009
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All you music companies want is MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE!!
It's practically free money. They've already produced the songs, they're already available; it's not like you're looking to recoup production fees for most of them. It's an added bonus. Are they considering the benefits of releasing songs? Not only do they get licensing fees, they'll be attracting a new fanbase, so they get fringe benefits in the form of Itunes downloads, new fans to go to concerts and buy swag, etc.
Just give it up, WB. You're already an industry whore, just take it and be happy.
This is why the music industry is having problems, because they simply can't get enough.
Let's celebrate this and download random Warner Music mp3s.
Fuck up your relationship not only with Harmonix, but MTV as well.
I'm sure that won't affect you guys at all to have a shitty relationship with MTV.
>goes off to play "Motorbreath" on his acoustic<
Great point. It's awesome that you let us all know what you're going to go play on your acoustic, too. Sooooo cool. I always let people who totally don't care know what I'm about to do to show how cool what I'm about to do is.
>goes off to have sex with a totally hot supermodel<
Rockband DLC is the only time I've paide for music since, oh, I don't know, Tool's last album, and before that probably RATM - Renegades of Funk.
Fookin dinosaurs.
All that said, RB is my plastic instrument game of choice and I hope this doesn't become a problem.
And what's with people playing a real guitar? I do to but you don't see me getting all pissy over a video game.
OH NO YOU DIDNT GIRLFRIEND
let me help you out, were talking about the video game
Just kidding. Some of the lengths Warner has gone to in order to ''protect'' its content have been absolutely ludicrous. Youtube fiasco aside, this sounds like yet another facepalm moment for the music industry- RB has such potential for epic profit from selling song packs and individual songs to tons of gamers willing to pay for them. Hell, there's even potential exposure to a new fanbase which would bring in even more money. Warner, instead of accepting what is pretty much money for no work on their part, wants to milk someone else's product instead of putting their own effort out there to make money.
just leave them ALONE!