You may not know this, but April is actually the biggest month of the year for banjo sales in the US. You see, the annual Jugband Jamboree takes place in April each year, across various states in the country, but nobody attended this year thanks to those darn Guitar Heroes, Rock Bands, and Singstars.

A new report (via GI.biz) came up with the data, based on research done by firm Interpret. In fact, aside from the staggering 25 million US gamers that got down with one music game or another, data showed that these gamers purchased 67% more CDs than those who didn't enjoy rhythm-based games. In addition, 29% of these wannabe rockers actually downloaded or streamed a music video in the past three months (compared to the 15% that partook overall), and 45% listened to music via a social network (versus 32% overall). So, as much as celebrities like to bash these kinds of games, it's helping more folks get into music, which, to us, is a good thing.

You might have already seen this at the MTV Movie Awards, but if you're the sort of person that's sworn off the MTV Movie Awards entirely (perfectly understandable) then we'd like to present Doubt: The Video Game as imagined by The Lonely Island. Check out the hot, 16-bit action after the break.

Interesting side note: This video was made in conjunction with Fatal Farm, the crew responsible for a bitching TimeShift ad and one of the funniest things on the whole internet.

"Have video games totally taken over your life? Is your game play increasingly getting out of control? Have your friends or family confronted you about your gaming habit? How about your marriage or personal relationships – are they being affected? Is it difficult to balance work and gaming time? Do you sometimes skip doing homework or household responsibilities to play? Have you played video games as a way of escaping your problems? Has your game playing habit become so encompassing that you may need to go to rehab to kick it? If you can identify with any of the above, MTV wants to hear from you." -- Actual MTV casting call, in verbatim.

While we agree video game addiction can be a problem, especially if it gets in the way of your social life, we doubt appearing on a MTV reality program is the best solution for shaking the habit. If you don't want your 15 minutes of fame, consider taking the Joystiq Two-Step Plan to Stop Playing Games™. Step one: buy Terminator Salvation. Step two: Play it. You'll learn to hate games in minutes! Pretty soon, you'll want to go outside and make friends -- all without the embarrassment of being on the same network as Tila Tequila. You can thank us later.

[Via Siliconera]

The background image on the Beatles: Rock Band site has changed from a studio full of instruments to a reproduction of the set of the Ed Sullivan show from the Beatles' American debut on February 9, 1964. Without the band present, it just looks like the show is really proud of that drum riser.

We're currently checking with Harmonix to verify whether you can play on this set in the actual game. With all the work that went into modeling it, it would be pretty silly if it didn't show up in the game. We would, then, also expect at least one of the songs performed at that "really big shew" to be playable: "All My Loving," "'Til There Was You," "She Loves You," and "I Want to Hold Your Hand."

This week's Wii Rock Band DLC offering delivers a stack of new tunes for the popular music game that spans multiple generations. Like last week, Haromix delivers 25 new tracks from the old school sounds of The Allman Brothers Band to the headbanging vibes of Disturbed. Regardless of your style, there is surely something for you then the tracks go live tomorrow (May 19). As usual, each track is priced at 200 Wii Points ($2). The full track list can be found after the break.

MTV and Hollywood movie baron Jerry Bruckheimer made their union official this morning, lifting the 17-month shroud of secrecy off their joint venture, oh-so-creatively dubbed Jerry Bruckheimer Games. The new studio will be steered by former Microsoft exec and Halo 3 executive producer, Jim Veevaert, as the company's president of production. Veevaert will share the wheel with Jay Cohen, who joined the studio in March, his role now revealed as the company's president of development.

What Cohen and company will be developing exactly, however, remains a mystery, with the studio saying only that it will create original IPs that "convey and reflect the high standards of entertainment value set by Jerry Bruckheimer." For fans of shaky cams and explosions, one thing's for certain -- finally there's a studio out there with your best interests at heart.

At Joystiq Headquarters, we're all about bumpin' the latest Fiddy track and tossing around the ol' crystal skull (that's a basketball to you). So it should come as no surprise that we're psyched for the news that avid Joystiq reader 50 Cent is hoping for a sequel to his well-reviewed third-person shooter, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand.

According to an interview with MTV News, our favorite Vitamin Water investor responds rather positively when asked about the possibility of a sequel, saying, "I'm hoping we'll be able to do it ... with the success of this actual project, we'll try to do it again." Furthermore, though he's stated it before, he's more interested in doing future games that don't revolve around his persona, telling the interviewer, "I'd like to be a part of designing and marketing a video game I'm not actually in." And what of that Saint's Row movie you were optioning, Mr. Cent? "I was trying to option the rights, [but] the more we talk about it, the more expensive it will get," he says. Those "bigass chains" can get expensive, can't they?

Hit the break for the full, "actual" video (only for those in the US unfortunately, per MTV.com restrictions -- sorry!).

If you've worried about your youngsters being exposed to the evils of rock music, worry no longer: LEGO Rock Band is coming this holiday season on PS3, 360, Wii and DS to deliver us all from said evil. The game, currently being developed by TT Games and Harmonix, will use all the existing Rock Band and Guitar Hero peripherals.

The family-focused version of the game will allow you to customize your "minifigure avatars" along with your road crew and managers. The kid-friendly song list hasn't been fully disclosed, but we know it'll include:

• Blur: "Song 2"
• Carl Douglas: "Kung Fu Fighting"
• Europe: "The Final Countdown"
• Good Charlotte: "Boys and Girls"
• Pink: "So What"

So, LEGOs or Beatles, who's getting your Rock Band dollar this year?

In the pending lawsuit between DJ Hero publisher Activision and Scratch: The Ultimate DJ co-publishers Genius Products and Numark, all we've heard are each sides' allegations and condemnations of the other. What we haven't heard, however, was the long and messy tale leading up to the current state of things between former Scratch developer 7 Studios (now owned by Activision), Genius Products and, apparently, Brash Entertainment. Yes -- that Brash Entertainment.

According to The Cut Scene, Scratch began development in 2007, allegedly by 7 Studios and Brash Entertainment. In summer of the same year, Brash decided to focus on licensed properties and sold off the IP to Genius Products. The piece further alleges that by late last year, Genius Products was having financial problems and was not so much being courted by major publishers (including MTV, EA, Ubisoft and, yes, Activision) as it was trying to sell off a seemingly toxic asset. If The Cut Scene's anonymous sources are to be believed, there's a lot more going on here than it would seem.

GameStop just announced details of the Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle. According to an email sent out to customers, the Bundle will include a a Höfner bass, "The Beatles-inspired and Ludwig-branded Rock Band drums with classic pearl finish, a metal kick pedal and a vintage replica drumhead," a microphone and stand, as well as "additional special content." We're guessing that the drum set's careful description means it'll be an embellished Rock Band 2 drum set, rather than an accurate replica of Ludwig drums. You can get an idea of what it's supposed to look like at the game's website.

And we're also guessing that EA couldn't get the rights to a Rickenbacker guitar. Even if it is Paul McCartney's bass, the inclusion of a bass and no guitar seems odd!

The email teases an upcoming The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-order Club, which enables members to "receive breaking news and access to exclusive game elements, including art and behind-the-scenes footage." You know, if you're a huge fan of ... pre-ordering.

Jim Sonzero, the cinematic director who worked on soon-to-be-released Resident Evil 5 told MTV that he's in talks with Capcom to develop a live-action film based on one of the company's properties. No young upstart, Sonzero has worked on commercials and a feature film, Wes Craven's Pulse (presumably, Jim Sonzero's Pulse lacked a little marquee punch).

Sonzero's not talking specific IPs, so we'll leave it to you in the comments to speculate. Here, we'll start. Vin Diesel + blue armor + an arm that is a gun = box office gold.

Okay, so it will be a Rock Band game. Apple Corps LTD., Harmonix and MTV Games have announced that rock music's dream cast, The Beatles, will be reduced to multicolored note charts on 9/9/09, when the "The Beatles: Rock Band" launches worldwide on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii.

The "unprecedented, experiential progression through and celebration of the music and artistry of The Beatles" will allow players to tackle a cavalcade of culturally monumental songs via mic, drums and guitars, all included in a Limited Edition Premium bundle for $250 (all platforms) and "modeled after instruments used by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr throughout their career." Standalone guitars will also be available ($100), as will separate game discs ($60, all platforms) for those already surrounded by Instrument Protagonist equipment. According to the press release, The Beatles: Rock Band will be compatible with all prior Rock Band instruments and "other current music-based game peripherals."

And now we wait until September. God, we hope the person behind the store counter is named Jude. It's going to be SO funny when we ask for a copy.

Update: Speaking to an MTV representative, we confirmed that despite the "collaborative decision" to append the Rock Band brand, The Beatles will remain a "custom, standalone, dedicated game experience." MTV and Harmonix are not willing to discuss matters regarding DLC or song importation yet.

Jay Cohen, who recently left his position as North American VP of publishing at Ubisoft, is apparently taking the reigns of MTV and Jerry Bruckheimer's ever-gestating video game initiative. The Cut Scene reports that "numerous sources" have confirmed that Cohen has taken a job at the studio formed by the two media giants.

This is actually the first murmuring we've heard about the joint venture since it was announced 15 months ago. No word yet what the next step will be for the studio, but at least they've got a guy at the top who could make Bruckheimer's name mean to games what it does in movies and TV.

Imagine, if you will, that you have entered a library. Imagine further that a librarian approaches and, upon meeting you, asks, "Would you like to play Rock Band?" Would you think that this librarian was A) the greatest librarian in the history of librarians or B) wasting taxpayer money? If you chose B, you appear to agree with Omaha, Nebraska's Action 3 News, which recently filed a report about a group of local librarians using state funds to purchase Rock Band for its gaming workshops. Worse still, the librarians even had the audacity to film themselves assembling and playing the game -- during work hours -- and then uploaded the results to YouTube.

Indeed, the offense was so egregious that Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley launched an investigation into the matter, the results of which will be looked over by a group appointed by Governor Dave Heineman. To think that a library would purchase video games in order to attract more young people -- something many libraries are starting to do -- and then promote it via YouTube, where plenty of young people are likely to see it, boggles the mind. It's practically unconscionable.

Check out the incriminating YouTube video after the break (which also includes a little DDR action).