'Rock Band' Let Any Band Upload And Sell Their Own Songs

"Rock Band" is to allow any band or artist – signed or unsigned – to upload their own songs to the game and sell them to other users.

Until now, the only tracks to appear on the game have been pre-loaded, and have generally featured the likes of major acts such as The Beatles and Nirvana. However it's suggested that from today (January 19), all users of the game are able to upload their own songs via the Rock Band Network Store, which is open for beta testing.

Although the Network Store, which is designed by Harmonix, was initially created to cater for unsigned acts, Paul DeGooyer, MTV's senior vice-president for electronic games and music, told the Wall Street Journal that several high-profile acts who haven't been featured on Rock Band have also signed up.

"What was surprising to us was how many artists with hit records have offered themselves up," he explained.

The likes of Creed and Evanescence are understood to be among the acts set to use the service to get their songs featured on the game, while Sub Pop – the label home to the likes of The Shins, Mudhoney and Flight Of The Conchords – is also understood to be preparing a batch of songs for the game.

Thanks for the report to Nme.com.

Comments

[ihaterap69]

so do you have to make your own charts, or does harmonix do it after youve uploaded a song?

[rockahollic1]

I hope that Harmonix charts the songs for you lol. This could be really cool... 'cause there are a LOT of really good unsigned/small acts out there that need some attention!

[Wakisazhi]

I believe you have to make your own charts. However this is pretty old news.

[MyUserName777]

Creed and Evanescence lol

[Comeback Kiddd]

if thousands of artists do this then most likely no rock band user will be able to play with each other on xbox live or psn due to so many songs available

[TallNerdGuy]

This story has been out for awhile (and with more information than given in this subpar article)...the Rock Band peoples have had their Rock Band Network website up for many months now. The main thing they don't tell you here is that the bulk of the songs are going to be released via Xbox 360, with select songs being released on PS3 and Wii (which is a punch in the gut to anyone without a 360). I hope they decide against taking that route.

[Wiggimus]

Funny. I heard about this about a year ago. This uploading service was actually supposed to have been up earlier, but better late than never, right?

TallNerdGuy wrote:

This story has been out for awhile (and with more information than given in this subpar article)...the Rock Band peoples have had their Rock Band Network website up for many months now. The main thing they don't tell you here is that the bulk of the songs are going to be released via Xbox 360, with select songs being released on PS3 and Wii (which is a punch in the gut to anyone without a 360). I hope they decide against taking that route.

Now, though I may be mistaken, I actually heard that the uploaded tracks go through a kind of trickle-down system where they release on 360 first, then Wii after X amount of time, with PS3 after X amount of time still.

I hope Harmonix does it that way, because I highly doubt that any band would want to see their song(s) stuck on one system.

[Roberttitus]

MyUserName777 wrote:

Creed and Evanescence lol

Laugh if you want to, just remember that at the end of the day, they still make more in 6 months than you will make in your entire life.

[chocolateTeddy]

has anyone used this yet? does it work?

[Wakisazhi]

^It works, its just taking longer than expected for HMX to get the whole network going.

[mitch311]

MyUserName777 wrote:

Creed and Evanescence lol

Rofl

Roberttitus wrote:

MyUserName777 wrote:

Creed and Evanescence lol

Laugh if you want to, just remember that at the end of the day, they still make more in 6 months than you will make in your entire life.

just have to relate everything to money?

Does anyone know how it works. Like do you get microsoft points or something for selling your tracks or what?

[b_flo]

Now let's see all those who opposed famous bands to be on Rockband, coz it's considered selling out, and have their own band on it.

[TallNerdGuy]

Wiggimus wrote:

Now, though I may be mistaken, I actually heard that the uploaded tracks go through a kind of trickle-down system where they release on 360 first, then Wii after X amount of time, with PS3 after X amount of time still.

I hope Harmonix does it that way, because I highly doubt that any band would want to see their song(s) stuck on one system.

To go more in depth about the process, yes, RBN will eventually release more and more tunes to both PS3 and Wii. But its just the matter of the 360 getting the bulk of the songs first that bums me out. The people behind RBN are saying bands can put out their music on the PS3 once they make the files PS3-compatible, but if they don't do it right away, then there is that agonizing wait of them getting around to it. I have a PS3, and I don't want to be stuck hearing about how kickass one of my favorite bands' songs are on RBN instead of playing the kickass song.

[Zeoilvia]

ihaterap69 wrote:

so do you have to make your own charts, or does harmonix do it after youve uploaded a song?

The uploader needs to know someone/contact someone who can chart. OR do it themselves if they're patient. Takes a while to learn all the tools