Editing Harmonix (section)

=== Purchase by Viacom ===
In the early part of 2006, [[Activision]] acquired RedOctane, and several publishers became interested in acquiring Harmonix.<ref name="cnn hmx history"/> In September 2006, [[ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks|MTV Networks]], a division of [[media conglomerate]] [[Viacom (2005–2019)|Viacom]], announced that it was acquiring Harmonix for $175 million.<ref>[http://www.harmonixmusic.com/p092206.html Harmonix<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913221221/http://www.harmonixmusic.com/p092206.html |date=13 September 2007 }}</ref> Harmonix's last ''[[Guitar Hero]]'' game for RedOctane, ''[[Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s]]'', was released in July 2007, thus fulfilling their contractual obligations with the publisher. Before they left the series, Harmonix had already envisioned expanding the gameplay of ''Guitar Hero'' to multiple instruments, a concept that would eventually lead to ''[[Rock Band (video game)|Rock Band]]'' that would develop under MTV.<ref name="edge interview LoPiccolo">{{cite magazine | url = https://www.next-gen.biz/features/harmonix-interview | title = Harmonix Interview | magazine = [[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] | date = 20 October 2008 | access-date = 21 October 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111005153217/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/harmonix-interview | archive-date = 5 October 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Shortly after the acquisition by MTV in December 2006, the initial discussion between [[Dhani Harrison]], son of [[George Harrison]], and MTV President [[Van Toffler]] occurred that would eventually lead to meetings between Harmonix and [[Apple Corps, Ltd.]], leading to the creation of ''[[The Beatles: Rock Band]]'', though this was not publicly revealed until late 2008.<ref name="cnn hmx history"/>

Harmonix released ''[[Rock Band (video game)|Rock Band]]'' in November 2007. As Harmonix's first game as a part of MTV, ''Rock Band'' expanded upon the design of ''Guitar Hero'' by incorporating three different peripherals: guitar/bass, microphone, and drums. Harmonix continued to support the game after its initial release by offering [[List of downloadable songs for the Rock Band series|a variety of downloadable songs]] to [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]] players on a weekly basis. As of March 2013 over 4,000 songs have been made available as [[downloadable content]], with over 100 million songs downloaded.<ref>{{cite web|title=RockBand.Com|url=http://www.rockband.com/songs|publisher=Harmonix|access-date=20 March 2013}}</ref>

{{Anchor|The Beatles}}
In October 2008, Harmonix, along with [[MTV|MTV Games]], announced an exclusive agreement with [[Apple Corps|Apple Corps, Ltd.]] to produce a standalone title based on the ''Rock Band'' premise and featuring the music of [[The Beatles]], to be released late in 2009. ''[[The Beatles: Rock Band]]'' features a visual and musical history of the Beatles, and includes 45 songs from their 1962-69 tenure with [[EMI]], using United Kingdom-released versions of their albums ''[[Please Please Me]]'' through ''[[Abbey Road]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gallo|first=Phil|date=30 October 2008|title=MTV cues up Beatles video game|url=https://www.variety.com/VR1117994943.html|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=3 November 2008}}</ref> The developers have worked with [[Paul McCartney]] and [[Ringo Starr]] to gain input on the game, and were using [[Giles Martin]], son of [[Sir George Martin]] who produced most of the Beatles albums, as music director for the game.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/making-music-interview | title = Making Music | first = Ellie | last = Gibson | date = 4 November 2008 | access-date = 4 November 2008 | website = [[Eurogamer]]}}</ref> Harmonix stated, despite building on the ''Rock Band'' gameplay, this would not be a ''Rock Band'' branded title, and that the songs would not be available as [[downloadable content]] for the ''Rock Band'' series.<ref name="reuters rock band">{{cite news | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE4A004520081101 | title = MTV and Activision face off in battle of the brands | first = Antony | last = Bruno | date = 31 October 2008 | access-date = 3 November 2008 | work = Reuters}}</ref> The agreement had been in discussion for more than 17 months before the announcement.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kohler|first=Chris|date=30 October 2008|title=Live Blog: Beatles, Rock Band Makers Team For New Game|url=https://www.wired.com/2008/10/live-blog-the-b/|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|access-date=30 October 2008}}</ref>

In November 2008, Viacom paid Harmonix a $150 million bonus as part of the terms of the company's 2006 acquisition. The previous quarter's bonus was $150 million.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a2SYAQng5w7U&refer=home Bloomberg]. Bloomberg. Retrieved on 1 June 2013.</ref> In a 2009 survey of the best places to work in the Boston area, the ''[[Boston Globe]]'' ranked Harmonix as the 3rd best workplace overall, and the top mid-size business in its poll.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.boston.com/jobs/topworkplaces/2009/articles/when_everyones_in_tune/ | title = When everyone's in tune | first = Hiawatha | last = Bray | date = 10 November 2009 | access-date = 10 November 2009 | work = [[Boston Globe]] }}</ref>

On 10 December 2009, Harmonix laid off 39 of its employees, primarily in the QA department.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/10/restructuring-layoffs-hit-harmonix-the-band-plays-on/ | title = Restructuring layoffs hit Harmonix, the band plays on | first = Alexander | last = Sliwinski | date= 10 December 2009|work= [[Joystiq]]}}</ref>