Warner Music wants more money for licensed songs
Developers vying for a slice of the rhythm game pie may soon find the cost to dig in to be increasing -- at least if they want players to nod along with music they know. According to Reuters, Warner Music's top exec Edgar Bronfman has come forward, stating that game companies should pay more to the music industry in order to include licensed tunes in their music-based games.
Says Bronfman, who compared the relationship to the likes of MTV or Apple's iPod, "The amount being paid to the music industry, even though their games are entirely dependent on the content we own and control, is far too small." Given Warner's interest in music currently flowing through both Guitar Hero III and Rock Band, not to mention the war that is about to unfold on living room stages later this year, it will be interesting to see who will 5-star this game of financial tug-of-war.
Says Bronfman, who compared the relationship to the likes of MTV or Apple's iPod, "The amount being paid to the music industry, even though their games are entirely dependent on the content we own and control, is far too small." Given Warner's interest in music currently flowing through both Guitar Hero III and Rock Band, not to mention the war that is about to unfold on living room stages later this year, it will be interesting to see who will 5-star this game of financial tug-of-war.





















(Page 1) Reader Comments
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Seriously, they want more money, than just move along because I don't find a majority of Warner's music to be of a decent quality.
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If I were a music exec, I wouldn't mind giving Rock Band and Guitar Hero my music for FREE given the exposure they get.
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I'd certainly love to see an indy Rock Band/Guitar Hero game.
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Cheat on the Church, All of This, Get Ready 2 Rokk, Decontrol, and EVEN RATS! It was amazing.
Too bad we'll never see it. Harmonix needs to release All of This as DLC. I sing along EVERY TIME.
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Sure, the music industry is in trouble these days. But one of the best things they've got going for them is the boom in music games. I know I've been turned on to music I'd never heard of by these games, and have bought albums as a result. If they try to squeeze the game companies too hard, they may well kill this new source of revenue and publicity for their artists.
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Rock Band has it's daddy (MTV), and Guitar Hero has it's daddy (Vivendi).
Actually, I shouldn't exactly say that.
Ultamate Band has it's daddy too (Disney).
So in the end, Konami is screwed.
Now someone take out Disney, and we are golden.
The only way to get the message through to theese guys is to vote with your wallets. It is that simple...
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Music = Want
Completely different.
Roadrunner records is under Warner Music Group.
Damnit, I WANT MORE DREAM THEATER.
Full discography Dream Theater DLC! Guitar Hero: Dream Theater. I don't care, I don't want money to get in the way of me and Dream Theater!
{and there goes the Dream Theater fanboy inside of me}
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The money trough!!! BA-DA-BING!
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Let me have a copy of the music to listen to outside of the game then we'll talk about raising the price.
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