Rock Band Network - Public Domain songs?

[tacologic]

I'd first like to say that this idea might not work for a number of reasons, but I just wanted to throw it out there for debate. I also would like to add that I am not an expert, and what I'm saying might not sound right.

But...

There are a lot of songs that exist in the public domain, ones that artists are free to record. Some of these are traditional/folk songs, some were created specifically to not have ownership, some have rights that have expired, and there are probably others here too.

I'd think that these songs are probably also able to be created for Rock Band and uploaded to the Rock Band Network, once it gets going.

I know that I think that it'd be pretty cool to do some old ragtime songs, am imagining how cool a Spanish guitar chart would look, and loving the idea of a sing-along with She'll Be Coming 'Round The Mountain.

Anybody else think this would be cool/possible?

[irockprettyhard]

yus! i have wanted to play "the wheels on the bus" since GH2

[Icemage]

I don't see why this would be a problem. If a song is truly in the public domain, then there are no copyright issues to speak of, so as long as you create your own master tracks for whatever instrument(s) are present on your cover, it should be OK I would think (within reason - have to be careful in a few cases where there are well-known public variations of a song which have distinctive copyrighted elements, such as Simon & Garfunkel's version of Scarborough Fair).

[Ehfahq]

Id love to see a version of 'When the Levee breaks.'

[DMBillies]

There are some public domain songs that would definitely be cool. Don't know how the licensing would work... as in, I would think the person releasing the song would have to prove that the song is in the public domain.

I know they have said they won't allow covers, which is unfortunate because there are great songs out there that have been covers. Also, I'm wondering how they define cover? A ton of the music that makes it on the radio was actually written by someone else and may have been performed by the song writer plenty of times (even if the song was not really "made famous" by them). I'm sure it is the licensing that is at issue, but limiting RBN to only self-authored music is pretty limiting.

[blzbub74]

Considering there's already a band planning on releasing house of the rising sun on the network, I think this idea is pretty likely.

[tacologic]

Not allowing cover songs probably saves them a lot of hassle when it comes to licensing, but if a song is "Traditional" then I think it's not a cover. Yeah, doing Simon and Garfunkel's specific version of Scarborough Fair wouldn't fly, but someone recording a version using the traditional music (I'm not sure how differs) would be cool.

And while thinking of this, I also wondered if the guy that controls the music from the Kingston Trio would get wind of this. Because that'd be fun too.

[Icemage]

Not allowing cover songs probably saves them a lot of hassle when it comes to licensing, but if a song is "Traditional" then I think it's not a cover. Yeah, doing Simon and Garfunkel's specific version of Scarborough Fair wouldn't fly, but someone recording a version using the traditional music (I'm not sure how differs) would be cool.

With respect to my example, the problem would be the specific arrangement - especially the extra counterpoint vocals which are borrowed from Art Garfunkel's original song "Canticle" (On the side of a hill in the deep forest green / Tracing of sparrow on snowcrested brown / etc.).

If you dropped the counterpoint and changed the instrumental arrangement and/or the lyrics you'd probably be bulletproof on the song.

[davidshek]

Considering there's already a band planning on releasing house of the rising sun on the network, I think this idea is pretty likely.

Sorry, but that's false logic. Just because the band is planning on it, doesn't mean HMX is going to allow it. As far as I've seen, they have made no statements on this matter other than "No covers will be allowed on RBN".

[T-Hybrid]

Also, I'm wondering how they define cover?

I'm guessing they're going to be more lax about letting you put up a song that somebody else wrote as long as you can prove you have the rights to record/distribute it.

What they're referring to in regards to covers is if your band decided to do a version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" or "Everlong" and add it.