Rock Band in the WSJ today

[idiotec]

Pretty interesting article. Most of it focus' on the competition between Rock Band and the other game.

One of the more interesting parts relates to the promotions MTV will be doing:


But Rock Band can rely on the full promotional power of MTV's music-themed cable channels, including MTV, VH-1 and CMT. In one of the most aggressive marketing campaigns yet for a videogame, MTV plans to pull out all the stops to build awareness among its viewers of Rock Band, weaving the game into its programming. MTV values the promotional time at $30 million.

Rock Band will be set up in the home of the participants of MTV's "Real World" reality-television show. In mid-November, there will be a "battle of the bands" competition shown on MTV's TRL music video show, pitting two groups of gamers that were selected during a cross-country tour. VH-1 has even done a spoof documentary in the style of its "Behind the Music" series, called "Rock Band Cometh: The Rock Band Band Story," which chronicles the antics of a fictional band that plays the plastic instruments from the game.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119370259805275665.html?mod=todays_us_nonsub_mar ketplace

[RkBndDrmr]

I don't watch MTV much, but the VH1 "Behind The Music" type thing would be a fun watch.

[Electric_Zen]

I was particularly interested by this part.


Marc Reiter, who works for Q Prime, the firm that manages Metallica, says the band was previously approached to license its music to games, including Guitar Hero, but never agreed because makers only offered flat fees, instead of royalties based on sales.

With Rock Band and Guitar Hero III, the game makers finally agreed to grant royalties. Mr. Reiter says Metallica is happy about the decision since a couple of them play Guitar Hero, as do their families and fans.

I wonder if any other bands got this sweetheart deal.

[sporkBrigade]

Metallica licensed two of its best known songs -- "One" and "Enter Sandman" -- for use in Guitar Hero III and Rock Band, respectively. Marc Reiter, who works for Q Prime, the firm that manages Metallica, says the band was previously approached to license its music to games, including Guitar Hero, but never agreed because makers only offered flat fees, instead of royalties based on sales.

With Rock Band and Guitar Hero III, the game makers finally agreed to grant royalties. Mr. Reiter says Metallica is happy about the decision since a couple of them play Guitar Hero, as do their families and fans. "We felt we were remiss in not being in there," he says.


This was my favorite part. I'd wondered what changed Metallica's collective mind. Glad to see they're still all about the money, they had me worried for a second. I was scared they might start making decisions to please the fans over their own bank accounts, I didn't know what I was going to do with myself. Good to see they're sticking to their proven money sucking ways, though. The world is right again.

Edit: LoL @ Electric Zen. Good to see I wasn't the only one that caught that part...

[idiotec]

This was my favorite part. I'd wondered what changed Metallica's collective mind. Glad to see they're still all about the money, they had me worried for a second. I was scared they might start making decisions to please the fans over their own bank accounts, I didn't know what I was going to do with myself. Good to see they're sticking to their proven money sucking ways, though. The world is right again.

Too funny :D

[sporkBrigade]

I wonder if any other bands got this sweetheart deal.

Actually, this question has a deeper meaning then I realized. Didn't RedOctane claim they paid a fee on every song sold in their download packs similiar to iTunes, and that's why they're so expensive? If Metallica is the first band to get royalties, and before they were paying flat fees, I smell horse s***.

[Electric_Zen]

Actually, this question has a deeper meaning then I realized. Didn't RedOctane claim they paid a fee on every song sold in their download packs similiar to iTunes, and that's why they're so expensive? If Metallica is the first band to get royalties, and before they were paying flat fees, I smell horse s***.

The deal is that groups on the main setlist have historically been paid flat fees, and that DLC has been paid iTunes-type royalties.

That setup makes sense. Main disc content has a guaranteed distribution rate that will by definition be higher than DLC. People will buy the disc even if they hate your song. You have a higher ceiling in terms of what you could make from DLC, but it's a risk-reward thing. What you make is dependent upon how many people buy your music.

Metallica strong-armed a sweetheart deal. They get the major cash upside of a royalty arrangement, paired with getting guaranteed mass distribution by being on the main disc.

At least Harmonix had the good sense to negotiate the deal as part of a larger arrangement, under which Metallica will provide a nice cut of their back catalog as DLC.

The obvious problem here is that any band that thinks they are as important as Metallica may ask for a royalty arrangement as well. And you can't afford to fill a game disc with content that is being paid on a royalty basis.

[sporkBrigade]

The deal is that groups on the main setlist have historically been paid flat fees, and that DLC has been paid iTunes-type royalties.

That setup makes sense. Main disc content has a guaranteed distribution rate that will by definition be higher than DLC. People will buy the disc even if they hate your song. You have a higher ceiling in terms of what you could make from DLC, but it's a risk-reward thing. What you make is dependent upon how many people buy your music.

Metallica strong-armed a sweetheart deal. They get the major cash upside of a royalty arrangement, paired with getting guaranteed mass distribution by being on the main disc.

At least Harmonix had the good sense to negotiate the deal as part of a larger arrangement, under which Metallica will provide a nice cut of their back catalog as DLC.

The obvious problem here is that any band that thinks they are as important as Metallica may ask for a royalty arrangement as well. And you can't afford to fill a game disc with content that is being paid on a royalty basis.

I think it's the default stance of any band to believe they're more important then they really are. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out. I wonder if people are ready to see less then 40 licensed songs on a game disc for no other reason then Rock Band got too popular and they can't get artists to sign without royalty agreements. o.O

[admanimal]

I don't watch MTV much, but the VH1 "Behind The Music" type thing would be a fun watch.

It's on the VH1 website already. Look for a thread on here called "Rock Band Band"

[nicko68]

Pretty interesting article. Most of it focus' on the competition between Rock Band and the other game.

It's called "Guitar Hero" (or more precisely, "Guitar Hero III") :rolleyes:

[Apples]

Well if Metallica is all about the money and this licensing model, you'd expect they opened the cupboards wide when RB approached them for download tracks - can't wait to see what's in store there.

[RkBndDrmr]

It's on the VH1 website already. Look for a thread on here called "Rock Band Band"

Just watched it. Was umm...interesting.

[idiotec]

It's called "Guitar Hero" (or more precisely, "Guitar Hero III") :rolleyes:
LOL, you honestly just took the time to post that?

What a douche :D