The programme consists of a set of "do-it-yourself" tools that bands using Rock Band Network can use to distribute their music, promote through email and social network marketing and manage inventory fulfilment.
Affiliated companies include online music distributor Tunecore, fanbase and sales generation platform Nimbit, online music marketing plaform Reverb Nation, musician social network Indaba Music and online music sales platform Topspin.
“The Affiliates Program is the next step in our goal of bridging the music and game spaces,” says Paul DeGooyer, MTV's senior vice president of electronic games and music. “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.”
Rock Band Network, which launched in early March, allows bands to create and distribute songs for Rock Band, receiving a 30 per cent royalty on sales through the Rock Band Network Store, which currently stocks 300 songs.