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Rock Band Network tunes in with more than 100 songs

MTV Games and Harmonix launch open-ended music store for rhythm franchise; The Shins, Of Montreal, KMFDM among initial artists; Flight of the Conchords, Smashing Pumpkins on the way.

Dim the lights and fade the house music because Rock Band Network is finally taking the stage. MTV Games and Harmonix today flipped the switch on the Rock Band Network Music Store, lowering the barriers facing bands who want to make their songs available to Rock Band players.

Keep an eye out for

Keep an eye out for "Hiphopapotamus vs. Rhymenocerus" on Rock Band Network.

Originally announced last July, the garage-band-friendly addition to the Rock Band music store lets bands prepare and release their own tracks for sale as downloadable content in the game. Using the Reaper Digital Audio Workstation program, musicians will be able to take their master-track recordings and add note charts for each instrument.

Once the note tracks are in place, users will be able to upload it through the Xbox 360's XNA Creators Club. There, the track will go through peer review from other Creators Club members. After earning approval from that community, the song will go up on the Rock Band downloadable song store, where musicians will earn 30 percent of whatever revenues the song garners.

MTV Games has said Rock Band Network would play host to established acts, as well as unknowns, and the store's debut backs that claim up. In addition to indie rock darlings like The Shins and Of Montreal, the Rock Band Network's initial slate of more than 100 songs includes tracks by Steve Vai, Jonathan Coulton, KMFDM, Five Finger Death Punch, The Main Drag, Kristin Hersh, Bif Naked, Nick Gallant, and more. MTV Games has also said that tracks are in the pipeline from Smashing Pumpkins and the folk-comic duo Flight of the Conchords.

To help the unknown acts get a leg up on their more established colleagues, the game will also feature a T-Mobile-sponsored Artist of the Month program beginning in April. The tracks will be exclusive to the Xbox 360 versions of Rock Band for at least 30 days, but "a selection of standout tracks" will eventually find their way to the PlayStation 3 and Wii editions of the game.

Those interested in authoring their own Rock Band tracks or signing up to be a peer reviewer to assist others with in-development works can register on the Rock Band Network Web site.

30 Comments

  • Forlorn79

    Posted Mar 5, 2010 10:52 am GMT

    Lacuna Coil and In This Moment have songs available! If you liked the ones in the normal music store, check out the ones in the new network.

  • efunk25

    Posted Mar 5, 2010 8:32 am GMT

    If only we could get some Tool and Led Zepplin. But I know that will never happen.

  • JKehr

    Posted Mar 5, 2010 7:44 am GMT

    Steve Vai is cool, but how about some other bands/artists that are worth listening to?

  • spacedvest2

    Posted Mar 5, 2010 7:18 am GMT

    @Mandaean, what exactly are you waiting for? The diversity with the tracks that already available is incredible, plus Rock Band 2 has been out for almost a year and a half already.

  • efunk25

    Posted Mar 5, 2010 6:58 am GMT

    @PacoL250
    I agree, PS3 needs to get more of the Indie stuff. But give it time. After this year of Exclusives for PS3 I think more and more doors will be opening... Fingers Crossed.

  • SolanOcard

    Posted Mar 5, 2010 5:31 am GMT

    David Kniffin, the rock band song list is around 1000 songs, 800-850 of them being downloadable for a charge. so if like you say, you have downloaded practically every song that game out, that means 800 songs at 1.99, is more or less(less) 1600 dollars. are you rich or retarded?

  • Mandaean

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 8:08 pm GMT

    Buying this game sounds pretty tempting at the moment but I'll wait till further support by other artists

  • PacoL250

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 7:21 pm GMT

    Bummer it's not on the PS3, but if I'm correct, Sony hasn't be oh-so-friendly with indie developers, that's for sure. There sure hasn't been something similar to the XNA suite of developer tools on the PS3.

    I'm bummed out only because while I own RB 2 on the Xbox 360, I have a PS3 as well and like the Xbox 360, I'd like to see indie development take root on the PS3. A friend of mine has done some XNA work and it's impressive how much support Microsoft gives.

  • David_Kniffin

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 7:08 pm GMT

    While I think this is an awesome idea, I just hate that it's 360 exclusive. I have the game on PS3 and I've been buying every single song that's ever come out. I just kind of makes me mad now that I cannot have a truly complete collection now and that I could be missing out on some awesome songs that may or may not come to the PSN Store.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 5:57 pm GMT

    Great news, I love rock band and more music is always a good thing

  • GrowlanserDX

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 4:31 pm GMT

    I think its pretty cool, i just wish they had more coheed, breaking benjamin, vai, 5FDP, and a few others and i'd be fine. Evil Angel, Gravemakers and Gunslingers, and Way of the Fist would be really nice :\ but it still is a pretty cool i have to admit and not only that but i would assume that if garage bands or bands just starting would be able to upload their own music and maybe get noticed via rock band which i think is pretty awesome indeed. So not only are they giving fans of the franchise what they want but they are also helping upcoming bands out as well. Pretty cool stuff

  • Darkside7972

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 3:57 pm GMT

    *looks at LoserMike's post rating*

    Wow, people get down-voted for posting FACTS now? Someone asked why there is no PS3 support, and it is exactly as LoserMike said: there is no PS3 equivalent of XNA, and the chances of Microsoft making content developed with XNA compatible with the PS3 are absolutely zero. And yet, he still got down-voted. Fanboyism never ceases to amaze me.

  • Spiderbonez

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 3:36 pm GMT

    Smashing Pumpkins?
    YES
    YESSSSS

  • Tr5978

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 3:08 pm GMT

    Wow, bands I've actually heard of? I expected them all to be indie unknowns. What a pleasant surprise.

  • Trogeton posted Mar 4, 2010 3:04 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Trogeton

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 3:04 pm GMT (hide)

    and the best players of both games play guitar hero more.. because guitar hero is better.. danny johnson is the best in the world and he hates rockband it is more expensive to buy 60 songs of dlc than a new game so alot of dlc is just plain stupid really at least guitar hero has legendary songs and the most difficult

  • Dan21278

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 2:39 pm GMT

    Guitar Hero SUCKS!!!! ROCK BAND FOR LIFE!!

  • Stryder_18

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 2:37 pm GMT

    Rock Band just keeps the music coming, its great! This is what Guitar Hero should have done, instead they just kept on making new games all the time.

  • MamoruNoHakkyou

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 2:26 pm GMT

    Bif Naked FTW!!

  • Jack_n_Coke07

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 1:50 pm GMT

    Hmmm.....guess my band has a chance at some coin after all.

  • putz_noodles

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 1:46 pm GMT

    i hope all the songs will eventually make it to ps3!

  • Jak_Napier

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 1:40 pm GMT

    Smashing Pumpkins ftw. Cant wait to see their selection.

  • Dire_Weasel

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 1:14 pm GMT

    Another reason why my plastic guitar rock budget goes to Rock Band and not Guitar Hero.

  • Hitman2500

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 1:11 pm GMT

    cool

  • frogiggy323

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 12:57 pm GMT

    The new songs they put up are fantastic! The only real difference between them and Harmonix downloads is the store. So far I've played some Jonathon Coulton, Main Drag, Flogging Molly, and Speck tracks. This was pure genius!

  • Linkman0714

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 12:40 pm GMT

    so even though these songs are created using XNA for 360 they will be playable on ps3?

  • FallenOneX

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 12:29 pm GMT

    Has anyone actually played the new songs. I hope they turn out good, even though i don't play the game. just giving more people a chance is enough for me.

  • Sword-Hunter277

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 12:25 pm GMT

    There are 2 Flogging Molly tracks available at 80 MSP a piece.

    Best thing to happen to Rock Band since Rust in Peace.

  • LoserMike

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 12:13 pm GMT

    @Evil_Minion_8

    Because the PS3 has no indie development system. XNA is a development tool that Microsoft made that anybody can use to make 360 games if they're willing to pay $99 a year.

  • Evil_Minion_8

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 11:45 am GMT

    WHY is there no PS3 support?! Like this just seams extremely dumb to only have this for the 360....

  • Oodama_Rasengan

    Posted Mar 4, 2010 11:41 am GMT

    No comments?! Come on guys this is great! Rock on dudes!oneoneelevenone!

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