No Beatles DLC for Rock Band
"None of the Fab Four's songs will be available for download on the existing Rock Band franchise," claims the news outlet.
Taken at face value, that statement dismisses the possibilities of both downloadable content and the option of downloading songs from the disc, a technique Harmonix used to bring Rock Band and AC/DC Live tracks into other Rock Band games.
As for why rival Activision was unable to secure The Beatles for Guitar Hero, Sony/ATV CEO Martin Bandie noted that Activision "presented [the option] as if they were doing the music business a favor," adding that "when it comes to The Beatles, the leverage changes." Harmonix owner MTV reportedly paid a "very rich" sum for the license.
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has recently spoken out, suggesting that perhaps the music industry should pay for inclusion in Guitar Hero games and more mainstream exposure, instead of Activision being forced to pay licensing fees.
No platforms have been announced for Harmonix's Beatles game, though it is slated to arrive by holiday 2009 and will be compatible with existing Rock Band peripherals.
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This whole music thing is getting to be annoying already. Just give me the games, with the DLC. The game itself doesn't really change, just the music. I am done with all of it!!!
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It's the market at work, man! :-) All the free-market capitalism fans here should be rejoicing.
I can see it from the other sides. Harmonix wants the prestige of a top band like the Beatles, and thinks the price (whatever that price is) is evidently worth it. The Beatles want to preserve the power of their brand, and don't want to risk dilution of their fame by being put in the same league as... I dunno, Freezepop and Bang Camaro? (Don't get me wrong--I like Bang Camaro and Dethklok, but I can also see why The Beatles don't want equal billing.)
And of course, if you as a consumer don't want to pay $60 for a Beatles rhythm game, it's your choice to vote with your wallet.-
By "The Beatles" I can only assume that you mean Sony/ATV Music Publishing(1) as Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney do not actually own the rights to most of their music anymore? The other smattering of songs is owned by Apple Corp (not AAPL) and EMI.
McCartney only actually owns the rights to "Love Me Do", "Please Please Me", "P.S. I Love You", and "Ask Me Why"(2)
(1) Northern Songs -> ATV -> Micheal Jackson -> Sony/ATV -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatles#Song_catalogue
(2) -- Same source as above -
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