The Beatles: Rock Band will be out on the 9/9/09 and its already been reviewed on multiple sites. They love it. Its the same old music, many of us already have, remixed and mastered as part of a game or game format many individuals already have and enjoy. What is interesting is that box sets of the same remixed and remastered recordings are being released along side the game.

Which will sell the more copies? Which will generate more revenue for the labels and publishers? This will be a huge milestone if the game does significantly better. It won’t be the start of a trend, far from it, but due to the historic nature of the content and act it will be a marker, a confirmation of all that we have learnt over the last 3-5 years.

Over the same time period new Ipod Touch products will be released. These may be nothing more than the same as the new (well not, so new now) Iphones, with faster CPU and graphics along with the cameras enclosed. However there has been speculation that along with a tablet type device (the jury is still out as to whether it will see the light of day) a new form of music purchase will be announced. A package of content, which includes videos, perhaps lyrics and who knows what else. Im still of the thinking that it might include some kind of Garage Band (the software for Macs) inspired tool for remixing tracks, as the actual individual instruments and vocals would be sent. Why pay for remixes when you can in effect get your audience to create them for you!

So will this be the month or even year where the music industry puts its hands in the air and recognises that whilst the music is important, what consumers want is interactivity but interaction with compelling content? Watch this space.

Its being reported by the Wall Street Journal and on various industry sites that the beatles are at last bringing their music to the world of the download. However the story is that its NOT with Apple’s own Itunes. According to the Wall Street journal its rumoured that a selection of songs will be availble to owners of EAs Rock Band 2 videogame. 

Regular listeners of our podcast Music Industry News will know we often talk about this product and Guitar Hero as proof that their is still a very valuable market out there, its just being leveraged in a different way. This would seem to be evidence of the transition. 

It should be pointed out that except for the Number 1 album the Beatles have NEVER had their music licensed onto compilations. Now this is not a compilation but in many ways it is a change of policy as it would be a situation where their music was sitting as part of another product. 

So would you buy Rock Band 2 just to play along with the Beatles?

Check out the story HERE