One of the more profitable items in the late King of Pop's idiosyncratic collection of odds and ends was his ownership of ATV, a music publisher that owned the rights to over 200 songs from the Beatles' repertoire. Years after this acquisition, Jackson agreed to a merger with Sony, forming Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Jackson retained 50 percent of the publishing rights to the Beatles tracks until his recent untimely death -- despite rumors to the contrary, he never sold his stake in the merged company.
Why is this news relevant to you, dear reader? Well, many faux-rockers have been worried that Jackson's passing would affect the final set list for The Beatles: Rock Band. Fortunately, Harmonix recently confirmed to IGN that the game's tracks won't be compromised by MJ's death, or the dispersal of his assets -- including the Sony/ATV stake -- that will take place in the coming weeks. However, we expect that Elephant Man Bone Collector 3 will miss its fall launch window by a sizable margin.
Reader Comments (58)
Posted: Jul 9th 2009 2:19PM (Unverified) said
MJ left the rights to the songs to Paul McCartney in his will, if I'm not mistaken.
Posted: Jul 9th 2009 2:56PM (Unverified) said
yeah WRYYYYYY coulda sworn I heard the same thing as well
Posted: Jul 9th 2009 3:05PM UK31337 said
All this talk of the setlist is meaningless if it doesn't get announced. There's legit gameplay footage on YouTube which basically confirms a good deal of the songs (totally expected classics like Taxman and Day Tripper) but I'd like to know the rest too pl0x.
Posted: Jul 9th 2009 3:13PM Mr Khan said
I wouldn't imagine that he had much hands-on control of what was going on in that regard, so it shouldn't have been a concern.
Posted: Jul 9th 2009 4:37PM benheck said
This was one of the first things I thought about after hearing MJ died. He borrowed a LOT of money from Sony over the years using his half of the Beatles catalog as collateral... I'm sure there's a legal nightmare to come, but it's good to know it won't affect this game.
I was a skeptic until I actually played this game. Seeing how the Beatles music lights people up and gets them interested in playing, moreso than the rock games before, is a good sign for this title.
However I still think the real "money printer" would be a AAA "Country Rock Band" game with Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Gretchen Wilson, Dixie Chicks, etc.
I was a skeptic until I actually played this game. Seeing how the Beatles music lights people up and gets them interested in playing, moreso than the rock games before, is a good sign for this title.
However I still think the real "money printer" would be a AAA "Country Rock Band" game with Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Gretchen Wilson, Dixie Chicks, etc.
Posted: Jul 9th 2009 5:17PM Mr Everdred 01 said
wait, if Sony owns 50% of the shares of the Beatles songs, why isn't The Beatles: Rock Band a PS3 exclusive?
Posted: Jul 10th 2009 3:24AM PARANOID365 said
@ FNG & Storm Eagle::The Blood Edge
I am actually sickened by the way some of you, (not everyone, because the majority of people here have been very respectful), have chosen to speak about a person who has died.
Do you fucking parasites even realize what douche bags you come off as ??
I don't fucking care what your personal opinions or beliefs are about Michael Jackson, but to attack a person the way some of you have is absolutely disgusting, and that is why people like you guys are an absolute waste of skin, and the world would be a much better place with you gone !!
Also to everyone that has chosen to spew bullshit about this man's death, (or any other persons death), I hope and pray that each and every one of you will have a family member, (or better yet your whole family), die in the the most vial, painful, and excruciating fashion !! I will then promptly return to this site and say the most vial and disgusting things about your said family member(s), and then we will see how funny you think it is.
Disrespecting the dead is one of the most disgusting things a person can do, and I guarantee that anyone that chooses to participate in such vial behavior will have CARMA to deal with, and such people will suffer unimaginable pain and lose, (and it will be well deserved)!!
I am actually sickened by the way some of you, (not everyone, because the majority of people here have been very respectful), have chosen to speak about a person who has died.
Do you fucking parasites even realize what douche bags you come off as ??
I don't fucking care what your personal opinions or beliefs are about Michael Jackson, but to attack a person the way some of you have is absolutely disgusting, and that is why people like you guys are an absolute waste of skin, and the world would be a much better place with you gone !!
Also to everyone that has chosen to spew bullshit about this man's death, (or any other persons death), I hope and pray that each and every one of you will have a family member, (or better yet your whole family), die in the the most vial, painful, and excruciating fashion !! I will then promptly return to this site and say the most vial and disgusting things about your said family member(s), and then we will see how funny you think it is.
Disrespecting the dead is one of the most disgusting things a person can do, and I guarantee that anyone that chooses to participate in such vial behavior will have CARMA to deal with, and such people will suffer unimaginable pain and lose, (and it will be well deserved)!!
Posted: Aug 10th 2009 8:41PM (Unverified) said
Wow
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