Terry will often write about the importance of being a platform rather than a site. This is brought home once again by the rollout of “The Beatles: Rock Band,” the video game that is part of the Rock Band platform. For the uninitiated, Rock Band and Guitar Hero present a videogame interface that lets you play along with songs. The controllers are shaped like guitars and drums, and you “play” notes by striking the right color bars as they scroll down the screen. It doesn’t teach much about playing guitar, but it’s a ton of fun.

While the record industry cries foul over music downloading and the like, what we’re seeing is a resurgence of music as it’s presented in new and interactive ways. What’s more fun than pretending to be a Beatle? The band was smart to reissue all its albums, now remastered (and sounding great) on the same day the Rock Band game came out.

This isn’t a game review. What’s interesting is how Rock Band is becoming a platform. The game is $60. If you own the original Rock Band and Guitar Hero games, plus their sequels, you’ve spent more than $600. That’s not including ancillary products. Be a real nut for these games, and you’ll be shelling out $1,000 before you know it.

You can download new songs for each of the games. And here’s the really big part – Rock Band is becoming a platform for new artists. The Rock Band Network (RBN) is coming soon. It will allow you to “Rock Band-enable” your band’s song, upload it, and share in the money as people download and play along. Oh – by the way – MTV (owners of Rock Band) charges bands $99 for a “premium account.” Smart.

So why should you care? Local news isn’t going to rock out any time soon. This concept is important to note, because it once again shows us that technology doesn’t kill content; it enables it in new ways. Apple is making money by legitimizing downloadable music on iTunes; now MTV is in the same business, going a step further by selling downloadableinteractive content. Rock Band doesn’t spell the end of music. It’s another way to appeal to audiences and get them to buy content. We have to change our approach to our content, just as they do.

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