During a keynote interview at Billboard’s “Digital Music Live,” conference session at the Consumer Electronics Show today, Harmonix co-founder and CEO Alex Rigopolous let slip a potentially interesting tidbit about his company’s timing plans for the highly anticipated Rock Band 3.

“We’ve actually made a choice to break out of the annual release cycle for Rock Band this year,” Rigopolous told the assembled press and industry members. “[This is] partly because the annual cycle places limits on the choices you can make as a developer. We’re trying to take a long term view.”

Rigopolous added that the delay was also partly so the developer could focus on the Beatles-focused game announced last October.

Asked after the presentation how Rock Band publisher distributor EA felt about the break in the series’ yearly schedule, Rigopolous indicated that they were understanding. “Well, I’m sure they’d take [Rock Band 3] if we gave it to them, but they know how important this series is and they’re willing to give it the time it needs,” he said.

Elsewhere in the presentation, Rigopolous said that now that The Beatles license has been locked up, he’s really love to do something with Led Zeppelin songs, if possible. Rigopolous also addressed a question about the long-rumored keyboards in Rock Band 3. “You’re not the first person to ask me that question,” he responded. “The only answer I can give you to that question right now is maybe.”