Update: Warner Music About To Give Video Game Industry Altimatem

[The 1 2 P]

Warner Music is getting fed up with video game licensing fees for music games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero: http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/warner-music-dissatisfied-with-music-game-license-rates/. Although most of this seems attributed to the quarterly loses of Warner Music, it could also have very big ramifications for the future of all license music in video games, specifically Guitar Hero and Rock Band. So if you have a favorite artist under the Warner Music label and they have yet to be included in either Rock Band or Guitar Hero, chances are that day may never come.

It seems that Activision didn't take Warner's comments so gingerly. Read on for the impending war of words to come: http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/activision-fires-back-at-warner-music-boss-over-royalties/?biz=1

[Kid Ice]

Yeah, just like those labels that didn't put their videos on MTV when it first came out.

How'd that go?

[Kitsune Sniper]

Greed makes the world go round.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

Breaking news- This Just In! We're now going live on the scene at Warner Music Group Headquarters in Rockefeller Plaza.

For more on the story we have DPN's resident I.P. lawyer Kirin Jensen. Kirin, for the record we here at DPN all love Warner Music Group and everything they produce. We'd like to know your take on the matter.

First off, why has the video game industry knowingly taken profits from WMG and how can they right their wrongs?

Kirin?

[Leo_A]

Who cares, I hate licensed music in games, I want videogame music...

Sucks for the Guitar Hero/Rock Band fans though, but I suspect nothing will come of it anyways.

[Rob2600]

If music labels want to become profitable again, they'll have to start releasing actual music, as opposed to the overly compressed, computer perfected, cookie cutter static they've been releasing since the late 1990s.

[heybtbm]

if you have a favorite artist under the Warner Music label and they have yet to be included in either Rock Band or Guitar Hero, chances are that day may never come.

So Warner artists will be sitting on the sidelines making zero, while other artists included in the games will be raking in the royalty cash. Nice business decision there, Warner.

It's like a pouting child, folding their arms saying, "I'm not going to play with you"...while the other kids shrug their shoulders and continue having fun.

[ronney]

Interesting comments, that's exactly where YouLicense.com the open online music licensing marketplace comes in to play. YouLicense lets indie artists interact with video game makers and allows them to quickly and inexpensively license their music.

[G-Boobie]

So Warner artists will be sitting on the sidelines making zero, while other artists included in the games will be raking in the royalty cash. Nice business decision there, Warner.

It's like a pouting child, folding their arms saying, "I'm not going to play with you"...while the other kids shrug their shoulders and continue having fun.

The music industry has been one step behind the curve since the internet blew up; this is just another example. I don't think the industry as it stands will be even remotely the same in ten years. Too many people are making good music for free or close to free for the status quo to remain the same.


Interesting comments, that's exactly where YouLicense.com the open online music licensing marketplace comes in to play. YouLicense lets indie artists interact with video game makers and allows them to quickly and inexpensively license their music.

And while you license your music, be sure to enjoy a crisp, refreshing Pepsi. Pepsi: we make music licensing delicious AND carbonated!

[smork]

Interesting comments, that's exactly where YouLicense.com the open online music licensing marketplace comes in to play. YouLicense lets indie artists interact with video game makers and allows them to quickly and inexpensively license their music.

I'm sorry, I prefer iLicense - the licensing site where you earn valuable points towards online shopping!

[ronney]

I'm sorry, I prefer iLicense - the licensing site where you earn valuable points towards online shopping!

Dear guys,
I'm sorry if my post sounded commercial to you or offended you in any way.
I do work at YouLicense.com, but my only intention was to let you know there's an alternative to gigantic labels and record companies, and that these days indie artists and game makers can connect directly.
the web 2.0 is offering great opportunities for each side, and we should all try to make the best out of it.

[Poofta!]

yeh i dont care. these games are retarded anyway.

[Press_Start]

First radio, and now this. Might as well shoot themselves in the head while there at it.

Either way, it's good chance for independent artists like the Nerd's Kyle Justin to get air time and catch a break for once. So, let the companies have their "big labels", they're sinking and don't realize they're taking water.

[Nature Boy]

If music labels want to become profitable again, they'll have to start releasing actual music, as opposed to the overly compressed, computer perfected, cookie cutter static they've been releasing since the late 1990s.

I disagree. I think they just have to release the cookie cutter stuff using the proper channels, which these days means iTunes and RB/GH.

Cookie cutter stuff, no matter how much you and I dislike it, will always sell. They just have to get their heads out of their behinds and rethink how they sell it.

[Rob2600]

I disagree. I think they just have to release the cookie cutter stuff using the proper channels, which these days means iTunes and RB/GH.

Cookie cutter stuff, no matter how much you and I dislike it, will always sell. They just have to get their heads out of their behinds and rethink how they sell it.

You may be right about cookie cutter music. However, record companies are missing out on money from people like my friends and me who like good, genuine, well-produced music. The mainstream music scene has gotten so bad that during the last ten years, I've bought maybe one current CD a year. By comparison, in the early and mid 1990s, I used to buy one current CD every couple of weeks!

The radio used to be good, I swear!


P.S. "Altimatem" is spelled "ultimatum."

[Iron Draggon]

oh poor poo-poo... the gaming industry isn't as greedy as the music industry!

so now most artists currently signed with Warner Music will be shopping for new labels, just as soon as their contracts come up for renewal, so they can cash in on all the game related royalties like everyone on all the other labels!

so if Magnavox is "Smart. Very smart." Warner music is "Stupid. Very stupid."!

[Sabz5150]

First radio, and now this. Might as well shoot themselves in the head while there at it.

Either way, it's good chance for independent artists like the Nerd's Kyle Justin to get air time and catch a break for once. So, let the companies have their "big labels", they're sinking and don't realize they're taking water.

Oh, they realize they're taking water... it's just that their solution involves draining the ocean instead of fixing the ship.

My music taste left this country over a decade ago... it never came back.

[Nature Boy]

You may be right about cookie cutter music. However, record companies are missing out on money from people like my friends and me who like good, genuine, well-produced music. The mainstream music scene has gotten so bad that during the last ten years, I've bought maybe one current CD a year. By comparison, in the early and mid 1990s, I used to buy one current CD every couple of weeks!

You and I are no longer the target market though, so why would they pander to us? Teenagers (girls mostly) with oodles of disposable income is what they're after.

Trust me - I didn't stop spending money on music because it 'started sucking' (there are lots of great artists still making great music for me to purchase). I stopped spending money because I lost interest. I just don't identify with music like I did back in high school/university.

The music is out there for you to purchase. Just don't expect Warner/Sony/etc. to release it.

And it's not like the top 40 stuff didn't suck back when I spent money on music every week.

[SegaAges]

If music labels want to become profitable again, they'll have to start releasing actual music, as opposed to the overly compressed, computer perfected, cookie cutter static they've been releasing since the late 1990s.

QFE!

Screw those big corporations. Now I don't want to see WMG stuff in games!

[The 1 2 P]

Bump for update.

[modest9797]

Woohoo! Modest Mouse is with Epic.