On Timbaland’s “Beaterator”

As an undergraduate program teaching students about the art and business of creating and selling music, we’re admittedly intrigued by the possibilities for Timbaland’s application Beaterator, created for the Sony PSP in tandem with Rockstar Games, and due out in late September.

According to news reports, the purpose of Beaterator is “music creation.” In that sense, it’s not being billed as a “video game.” Its purpose, supposedly, is more educational and designed to inspire artistic creation.

Of course the superstar producer-performer is also banking his dreams on his contemporary relevance. He told Billboard recenty: “Guitar Hero teaches the history of certain old groups, but mine is more like what people hear on the radio –Timbaland, Timbaland, Timbaland.”