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January 18, 2008

MTV says 'Rock Band' game sells 2.5m songs

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Reuters: MTV says Rock Band game sells 2.5 million songs

Players of the rock music simulator have downloaded more than 2.5 million songs at about $2 each in the eight weeks since the game went on sale, MTV said on Thursday.

The numbers were well ahead of MTV‘s own expectations and underscored the potential of video games as a new source of revenue for a music industry grappling with falling CD sales.

“The music industry is in, how do we say, challenged times and we were testing the consumer’s desire for more gameplay around popular music,” Van Toffler, president of MTV Networks’ Music, Logo and Films Group, said in an interview.

USA Today: Rock Band pumps up music sales

Rock Band top sellers
1. Metallica (Ride the Lightning, Blackened, And Justice for All)
2. The Police (Can’t Stand Losing You, Roxanne, Synchronicity II)
3. Black Sabbath (covers of N.I.B., Sweet Leaf, War Pigs)
4. Queens of the Stone Age (3s and 7s, Sick Sick Sick, Little Sister)
5. David Bowie (Heroes, Moonage Daydream, Queen Bitch)
6. Weezer, Buddy Holly
7. Foreigner, Juke Box Hero
8. Creedence Clearwater Revival, cover of Fortunate Son
9. The Knack, cover of My Sharona
10. All-American Rejects (Dirty Little Secret, Move Along)

Source: MTV Games (many songs are sold in two- and three-song packs, while some are sold individually).


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#1 Me, That's Who... says:

I've been playing for over 20 years, but I'm not one of those guitarists that go "Hey! You're not REALLY playing guitar, loser! I can really play!".

I actually encourage people to play Guitar Hero because it looks like a lot of fun. I never have a problem with people having fun in any way (as long as it doesn't harm others).

More power to 'em. Metallica's "And Justice For All" is a bitch to play on a real guitar anyway.

I also think this game is a good way to expose people to genres that they wouldn't normally explore. I noticed that the diversity of the tracks on these Guitar Hero games is pretty spread out. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside at the prospect of a Fall Out Boy fan discovering the mighty power of Black Sabbath.


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