Billboard dropped the news today that later this year Harmonix will be releasing its tools for creating new Rock Band tracks. Through the XNA Creator's Club independent artists and labels, as well as major label artists, will be able to create their own Rock Band tracks and have them sold online through a new Rock Band Network Store.

Individuals can buy a customized version of the Reaper audio production application that is used to create Rock Band tracks, while labels or larger artists can, if they wish, hire Harmonix-trained freelance game developers or even Harmonix staff if they want the work done in-house.

Songs created through this process then go into a special section of the XNA Creator's Club, and are reviewed by other developers in order to check them for "playability, inappropriate lyrics, copyright infringement and so on." Songs are sold for 30% profit to the creator for prices that range from 50 cents to $3 per song.

Imagine this, except it's your avatar and your music.

The goal of this move is not only for Rock Band to further differentiate itself from Guitar Hero, but also for more songs to go up on a regular basis. Previously the staff could only handle a limited amount of content, but this new process would allow even major artists to upload an entire discography with half the effort previously required when it was all done in-house by Harmonix. Furthermore it expands the way artists can do their Rock Band tracks, allowing them to time the release of their content so it corresponds with certain tour dates or the release of an album in a store.

The program is in closed beta for now, with an open beta coming in August and a future public release slated for sometime later this year.


Anthony says: This is awesome news. I like Rock Band a lot, but the problem for me has always been that there was no way for a lot of the smaller -- but by no means tiny -- bands to get their songs in the game for me to play.

If this initiative takes off, it could completely change the face of music games, truly helping push Rock Band as a platform rather than just a game. After all, who would need a new Rock Band if the game has dozens to hundreds of songs being added regularly, potentially by major labels and artists? This would certainly make it easier to get songs than waiting for Guitar Hero to release another licensed, full-priced retail disc.

As a musician who has produced content of my own in the past, the idea of having those tracks turned into something that could be sold online and played by others in a game I love is tantalizing, to say the least. I don't know much about programming, but I might have to find someone who does when this thing rolls out for reals...