09/07/08 (09h35) GI Interview: EA Sports Madden NFL 09 (Steve Schnur) - ^Up 
 
[...] Madden NFL 09, which ships August 12, will feature 26 songs from some of the biggest bands in music, as well as some of the hottest bands of tomorrow.

[...] "We probably considered 4000+ songs before deciding on the final 26 tracks. It was certainly the largest batch of candidates we've ever taken on. But for the 20th Anniversary, we wanted to create a definitive soundtrack that would be a combination of returning classic Madden acts, ass-kicking new bands and some very cool surprises from hip-hop to hardcore and beyond."

[...] Schnur noted that in the past year alone, the EA Trax page at EA.com has sold over 100,000 mp3s, ringtones, themes and music from EA games directly to EA gamers. Schnur added that on iTunes, EA has logged nearly 150,000 purchases of EA music, along with tens of thousands more free podcasts and downloads.

[...] "Over the past seven years, 77.69% of the music in Madden soundtracks has come from emerging artists," said Schnur. "That's 108 out of 139 total tracks. Look back at the past six Madden soundtrack line-ups today, and you'll see plenty of familiar acts. But at the time, nearly 80% of those artists were completely unknown. The fact that a significant majority of these bands are now major stars is the ultimate true testament to the power of Madden."