Warner Music frustrated with Rock Band, Guitar Hero franchises

PS3 News | Music giant claims that they aren't getting paid enough money for licensed music.

One of the world's largest music companies, Warner Music Group has lashed out at the makers of Guitar Hero and Rock Band with claims that the developers of these music-centred games don't pay enough for licensed music.

Music chief executive Edgar Bronfman told Reuters, "the amount being paid to the music industry, even though their games are entirely dependent on the content we own and control, is far too small." Though Bronfman would not comment on the actual amount of money involved.

Although the price on licensing fees have incensed the music maker, it could be said that they are reaping the benefits in other ways, with several Warner artists appearing in Rock Band and Guitar Hero, such as Avenged Sevenfold and DragonForce. Sales figures have shown that exposure to these rhythm-based games has seen a sales bump in the albums of artists, particularly DragonForce, after the band was exposed to a wider audience in Guitar Hero III.

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10 Comments

Dropbear

3 years ago

Quote

Sales figures have shown that exposure to these rhythm-based games has seen a sales bump in the albums of artists, particularly DragonForce, after the band was exposed to a wider audience in Guitar Hero III.

But thats only because it's near impossible to play on GH3. XD

Anyway, I'd still like to see how much a band makes from the game itself after getting a song on GH or Rock Band.

Jellyfish

3 years ago

In other news, Telstra's CEO, Lawyers and Bill Gates claim they're not being paid enough.

IzzyToxic

3 years ago

Well, Warner Music can keep their songs to themselves and just STFU. Oh yeah, enjoy your bankruptcy, you pathetic losers.

Spanca

3 years ago

And the music industry wonder why their customers view them with utter contempt. Greedy ****ing bastards.

It's their product, their signatures on the licensing agreements, their fault.

Eyce

3 years ago

Quote

Sales figures have shown that exposure to these rhythm-based games has seen a sales bump in the albums of artists, particularly DragonForce

Players need to find a way to hear the whole song somehow

renegadesx

3 years ago

I think they dont appreciate the fact that the music publishers need Harmonix more than Harmonix needs them.

This is nothing new, they would say $30 for a CD is still not enough. The RIAA member companies are nothing more than pimps. They are not really needed in todays day and age, people can easily promote themselves, especially via the internet. Rock Band and Guitar Hero can easily make stars just as easily as all the propaganda in the world.

Warner: stop your bitching and be grateful for what you got. The reason you dont make as much money as you like are for 2 reasons

1) You're greedy bastards
2) Most modern music SUCKS!

/rant

Psy Storm

3 years ago

I just don't understand how they can complain! In the end it's their decision to give them the music or not, if they don't think they are getting enough money they could easily just NOT give it out. In the end things are only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, it's how capitalism works, if we follow this line of thought then they are getting exactly the amount that the music is worth. They are just money grubbing bastards, especially since the artists themselves would see only a couple of those dollars if they are lucky.

Appel

3 years ago

IISpacebreakII

3 years ago

This is pathetic, why are they whinging to the public? They should complain to the people paying them for crying out loud, you know? The people that actually have the money.

Skiller

3 years ago

PALGN wrote

"the amount being paid to the music industry, even though their games are entirely dependent on the content we own and control, is far too small."

WTF?! How the hell can they claim that? It's not like they wrote/performed the music, they just f**ked up the industry in such a way as to force musicians to have to sell their music to them in order to make a living then decided they want more money for nothing. If it were the musicians complaining then fair enough, but these jerkwad companies don't deserve a cent.

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