MTV reveals Rock Band Network, track upload program for artists
But, we digress. Later this year, MTV and Harmonix will launch the Rock Band Network, a utility that allows bands and acts to upload their stuff for the game. Rock Band Network is currently in closed beta, but have no fear. We could be seeing more on this as early as August, when it's planned to go into open beta. Initially, the Rock Band Network will only be available on the Xbox 360, though it's the goal to roll it out to the PS3 and Wii as soon as possible (what, no PSP love?).
The process itself sounds simple enough: When submitting music, talent have two different options. They can either submit their music to "a community of Harmonix-trained freelance game developers" who will handle implementing the music into the game, or "hire trained developers or school their existing employees to do the work in-house." This means that, for the first time, the acts will be able to control the note charts on their songs. Do you think Dragonforce ever wanted their song to be the most difficult thing ever?
Rock Band Network won't just help the little guy either, as Harmonix explains even with its bolstered staff, post-MTV acquisition, it can only add 10 new songs a day to the Rock Band store. This new system will help all music get into the game faster, and give Harmonix some relief from the burden. There's also another game to consider, which we're sure Harmonix is hard at work on right this very second.
[Via Billboard]















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ZenGaijin @ Jul 17th 2009 12:12PM
That's pretty damn amazing
BleachMan! @ Jul 17th 2009 12:13PM
oh screw you ;__;
ZenGaijin @ Jul 17th 2009 12:14PM
Sorry, I do the "FIRST" like some hyped up tool. I always wanted to find really old stories and go "LAST" just for a change of pace.
Damian @ Jul 17th 2009 12:43PM
Cant wait to download some Oleth on here.
MystileArmor @ Jul 17th 2009 12:48PM
LAST!
bongoes @ Jul 17th 2009 12:54PM
No you're not!!
Tiptup300 @ Jul 17th 2009 1:11PM
Chronic Future HERE WE COME!
Cody @ Jul 17th 2009 1:51PM
Oh sweet, Pro Tools. That's what I use.
http://www.myspace.com/southsydeent hit me up for your studio production needs musical or videogame wise
CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jul 17th 2009 1:59PM
It is pretty amazing, my only concern though is that we will be completely flooded with songs. Kind of like all the Apps in the App Store. Hopefully there is a way to weed out the thousands of crappy local bands that will be submitting songs.
Mazrael @ Jul 17th 2009 3:08PM
Only 10 songs a day though.. maybe genre each day..
Blues Monday
Classic Rock Tues
Metal Weds
Modern Rock Thurs
Folk Fri
Indie Sat
Evil Sunday \m/
& Emo... no day's left.. Y'barred! :P
BleachMan! @ Jul 17th 2009 12:13PM
Amazing
U U D D L R L R B A SELECT START @ Jul 17th 2009 12:13PM
Wow! Thats amazing...as ironic as it is, it is actually blowing my mind to see MTV championing music again after spending like the last decade destroying music as I know it.
Scott @ Jul 17th 2009 12:15PM
This is going to be huge for the music industry.
U U D D L R L R B A SELECT START @ Jul 17th 2009 12:15PM
And in other news, Activision has just collectively crapped themselves.
"But, but...you can use four drums in ours. Won't that be fun guys? Guys? Hello?"
Cookie Monster @ Jul 17th 2009 12:18PM
Wow...they are really running their franchise into the ground...
wait, what?
Oh, sorry...i didn't notice this post was about rock band.
Tiptup300 @ Jul 17th 2009 1:07PM
WTF are you talking about?
Trippy Haps @ Jul 17th 2009 3:41PM
Are your cookies laced with something?
Bagels: Commander in Chief of the lolcat sarcasm alert force. @ Jul 17th 2009 5:24PM
I don't think you guys get his meta-humor.
See, he starts as if this is a guitar hero post... must I explain it?
Elmoogle @ Jul 17th 2009 12:21PM
My god, these guys are pretty much raising the bar on a daily basis now. Eat your heart out (and then release 20,000 identical sequels to eating your heart out) Activision.
Spike @ Jul 17th 2009 12:20PM
so its like GHtunes, but better? i'm for it
charlie b. @ Jul 17th 2009 12:28PM
i'll bet anyone a chicken dinner that Guitar Hero 6 will not only have a feature similar to this, but Activision will declare "we've been planning this for years."
U U D D L R L R B A SELECT START @ Jul 17th 2009 12:50PM
@Charlie
Not to support Activision by any means, but this feature was originally announced for GH4. It was pulled *supposedly* out of fear of copyright infringement. I'm happy Rockband is picking up their slack with this and a pretty "no duh" solution to any kind of infringement issues.
edes @ Jul 17th 2009 1:06PM
You have to pay for the songs
Tiptup300 @ Jul 17th 2009 1:08PM
No, GHTunes is terrible. This is taking a band and recording them and putting them in game with vocals.
Kamasama @ Jul 19th 2009 1:33PM
@U U D D L R L R B A SELECT START
That doesn't make any sense. How do you infringe on your own copyright? Legally, this won't be any different than how they normally put up Rock Band songs; Harmonix just doesn't need to do the charting themselves and possibly takes less of a cut.
Shagittarius @ Jul 17th 2009 12:21PM
Fantastic! Can't wait to submit some material!
Shagittarius @ Jul 17th 2009 12:28PM
Would like to point out what business opportunity this is for guys who are good at creating note tracks. All the local bands will probably pay you a decent amount if you do the work.
Shagittarius @ Jul 17th 2009 12:29PM
They might even pay you in chicks!
BleachMan! @ Jul 17th 2009 12:38PM
And that was exactly what I was thinking of doing...making songs for bands, that is. >_>
Victor @ Jul 17th 2009 12:49PM
So, Shag, do you want to create a track for one of my band's song?
Shagittarius @ Jul 17th 2009 12:58PM
I'll have to get back to you, I've got about 7 tracks of my own and 8 tracks for my girlfriends band, but after that (and when I have the tools mastered) I'll let you know if I can help.
ilovethewaggle @ Jul 17th 2009 4:25PM
Pshaw, I get my money for nothin and my chicks for free.
Woz @ Jul 17th 2009 12:21PM
I'd really like to see big artists take advantage of this, but most likely this will be a bunch of local bar bands who will use this almost exclusively. But either way, it's still really cool and this is genre defining.
frzamonkey @ Jul 17th 2009 2:54PM
seriously, you can't stand any "modern music"? that is silly.
tmacairjordan87 (aka Mr. Negativity) @ Jul 17th 2009 12:22PM
I can see how this is good for some people, but for people like me who can't stand modern music I don't see myself ever using this, specially since they'll be charging for it.
Rick @ Jul 17th 2009 1:16PM
Not every band around today is playing 'modern' music, though. Cheer up and have some hope, dude!
Daniel C. @ Jul 17th 2009 3:17PM
As someone who doesn't like the majority of mainstream modern music I think this is a exciting advancement that I think will increase the range of music we see in Rock Band. Indy labels and artist can now work on converting their songs themselves and not have to wait to be picked up or noticed by Harmonix
(not sure how the process goes of deciding what music is ported now).
MystileArmor @ Jul 17th 2009 12:23PM
As a serious musician, I'm thrilled by the prospects of what this can mean for undiscovered bands.
Aivskar @ Jul 17th 2009 12:26PM
Don't lie, your only thrill is pudding.
MystileArmor @ Jul 17th 2009 12:30PM
I will write zee songz about zee chokolat pooding and zen wiz the subliminal mezzages in zee lyricz everyzone will become chokolat pooding makerz and I will haz an endlez supply of die chokolat pooding!!
U U D D L R L R B A SELECT START @ Jul 17th 2009 12:30PM
I agree 110%. I love when options like this come out that side step the usual conventions of the music industry. I've always hated the music industry and its system of allowing corporate executives decide what art would and wouldn't be provided for the enjoyment of the masses and just how it would distribute the art to them.
Between digital distribution and other options like this I would love to see the business practices they are entrenched in crumble allowing more freedom for more artists to get their music out there.
Swagman @ Jul 17th 2009 1:40PM
All they need to do now, is turn the Rock Band Network tools into plugins for Nuendo, Cubase and ProTools.
Download the plugin, install it into the music recording software you are already familiar with using, and have your copyrighted work up on the Rock Band Network at the same time you release your tracks for distribution via your usual distribution channels, and Robert's your mother's brother. Eternal fame and glory awaits.
Now that Xbox LIVE is implementing a 5-star user ratings system for all DLC later this summer, it will make it all the easier for the really good tracks to stand out . . . even if they are from a completely unknown musical act.
This system is going to be bad ass, especially for unsigned, unknown or underground musicians.
MowDownJoe @ Jul 17th 2009 12:24PM
They're giving musicians their dev tools? Damn!
And the video on the site has a pretty sick burn in Guitar Hero's direction: "When we say you can create songs for Rock Band, we're not talking about mashing buttons to string together pre-recorded samples."
Gamer4Life @ Jul 17th 2009 12:24PM
Will this madness of music "games" ever end 0.o
Bagels: Commander in Chief of the lolcat sarcasm alert force. @ Jul 17th 2009 5:28PM
No. Go away.
xandeR- @ Jul 17th 2009 12:27PM
SO awesome. This is how you do a "create a track" feature. Because here, actually talented people will be making the tracks!
Shagittarius @ Jul 17th 2009 12:27PM
OMG the fake rockin out fat chick band rules.
charlie b. @ Jul 17th 2009 12:34PM
you are absolutely correct. the boner i have now will keep me going all day.
Apollo @ Jul 17th 2009 12:27PM
RBtunes?
kerdook139 @ Jul 17th 2009 12:33PM
So I wonder how much these tracks are going to be since the developers dont really need to work as hard in making the tracks, only reviewing them. Perhaps 80MS per to go with the cost of a track on iTunes?