| Warner Music Group, the third largest music publisher in the world, is threatening to pull their music from the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games, because they feel they are not getting enough money from the use of their songs. Although MTV and Activision, makers of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games, have paid licensing fees to use the songs, WMG feels it’s not enough. WMG CEO Edgar Bronfman said this: |  |
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
WMG seems clueless to the fact that bands like Avenged Sevenfold and DragonForce have seen an increase in music sales due to their exposure in Guitar Hero.These games are actually helping promote their music, but the music industry is only focused on how to get the most money now, from both artist and consumer. Click here to read more about this story.
I see nothing wrong with WMG’s stance. They think they can make more money, so they’re going for it. That approach drives every industry out there. And if it seems like they’re short-sighted, think of what happens if they do get paid more for those songs. They’ll get more money up front, plus all the very same promotion from having songs in the game.
Besides, those songs are WMG’s property, and they’ll do whatever they want with them, for whatever price others are willing to pay. We petty consumers are in no way entitled to have them in our video games.
Short term thinking Guitar Hero is an amazing advert for bands