Jackson’s death won’t affect The Beatles: Rock Band set list

Is there any cause for concern that the final set list for The Beatles: Rock Band (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii) will be compromised by Michael Jackson‘s death? How did MJ get into the Rock Band title for The Beatles, in the first place? If in case you still weren’t aware, the King of Pop only happened to own the music catalogue of The Beatles via ATV, at least until his untimely demise.

Is there any cause for concern that the final set list for The Beatles: Rock Band (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii) will be compromised by Michael Jackson‘s death? How did MJ get into the Rock Band title for The Beatles, in the first place? If in case you still weren’t aware, the King of Pop only happened to own the music catalogue of The Beatles via ATV, at least until his untimely demise.

Fortunately, Harmonix clarifies and reassures that although Jackson did retain the 50% of the publishing rights to the Beatles tracks upon merging with Sony, the game’s set list will not be dragged into the whole quagmire of MJ’s dispersal of assets — even those concerned with the Sony/ ATV stake.

ATV’s music catalogue of The Beatles was won by Jackson through auction in 1985 for a reported US$ 47 million for the publishing rights for at least 150 to 260 songs.

• E3 2009: The Beatles: Rock Band debut trailer
• Across the universe: Beatles Rock Band guitars looking sleek
  

Via IGN