Harmonix's Rock Band Network Partners With Distribution, Promotion Sites

Rock Band developer Harmonix and owner MTV Games have partnered with several online music distribution, promotion, and tools firms to tighten links between those services and the Rock Band Network. Under the Rock Band Network Affiliates Program, the Rock Band Network will be promoted to musicians who use Tunecore, Nimbit, Reverb Nation, Indaba Music, and Topspin, while those sites will be promoted to existing users of the Rock Band Network. The partnership is intended to extend to Rock Band Network bands and musicians the facilities necessary to better produce, promote, and market their music. In addition to integration of certain services into the Rock Band Network, the companies will work together to provide participating musicians with discounts and offers, such as free or subsidized fees, advertising, cross-promotion, and more. "This initiative will promote the Rock Band Network to bands that frequent our affiliates’ sites and give the creators inside the Rock Band Network the opportunity to work with an amazing group of well-respected music distribution, promotion and technology sites," said MTV electronic games and music SVP Paul DeGooyer in a statement. Officially launched earlier this year, the Rock Band Network allows Rock Band owners to convert their own music recordings into tracks compatible with the games, then sell them online for a 30 percent royalty. Although it is broadly marketed to non-professional musicians, established record labels like Sub Pop, whose library includes Nirvana and Sleater-Kinney, have also launched support for the program.