Harmonix and MTV Games have unveiled plans to launch the Rock Band Network, a new initiative enabling artists and record labels to author their own original recordings into gameplay files and sell their music as playable tracks.
Rock Band Network will work with Rock Band 2 and be native to Xbox 360, plus users will need to be members of Microsoft’s XNA Creators Club Online.
The service is currently in closed beta and is due to enter open beta in the States in late August 2009. “Stand out tracks will follow” on the PS3 and Wii, according to the announcement, but “all songs will debut exclusively on Xbox 360 for 30 days.”
"Our goal with Rock Band has always been to go beyond making music games and create a true music platform," said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix. "With the Rock Band Network, we've evolved the platform to its next logical step, giving players access to an incredible amount of new music by putting the professional tools we use in the hands of the artists themselves."
The Rock Band franchise had shipped over ten million units worldwide as of February. The latest series entry, PSP-only Rock Band Unplugged, released in June and is reviewed here.