Music for Gaming: What Indie Musicians Need to Know
Why the massive growth in gaming is great for indie musicians, plus other news from the music industry.
Did you know that thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, video games are a bigger industry than movies, and North American sports, combined? With the massive growth in sales on online games, there’s a huge opportunity for music makers who can create music for gaming.
More than Background Noise
If you’re into gaming (or you live with someone who is) you’ll know that music is much more than just background noise. It’s an integral part of the game experience, and that means opportunities for composers and songwriters to both sell, and get exposure for, their music.
Big name games like Grand Theft Auto feature interactive playlists, real DJs and even virtual gigs. An in-game virtual concert held on Fortnite in February 2020, was attended by over 10.7 million players.
With the growth in the role of music in gaming, platforms are investing more of their cash in developing big catalogs of licensed music, which gamers can enjoy as part of their playing experience. Read more in this article from Hypebot.
A New Challenge
Of course, this opportunity has not gone un-noticed, and some composers who have previously been attracted to writing music for films are now exploring the challenges offered by composing music for gaming.
With players spending many hours on a single game, the music can’t get boring or repetitive. And of course, the soundtrack must respond to the interactive nature of the game. Think “ambient” rather than prominent melodies, with the score flowing from theme to theme, almost un-noticed. The aim is to keep the player absorbed – and focussed – in the game, and unconscious of time passing. This article from Wired dives deep into this fascinating process.
Get into Gaming
So what are game developers looking for, when they are sourcing music for gaming? In this article, musicradar.com explore how the process works with Activision Blizzard Inc, – the name behind huge game titles such as Guitar Hero and Call of Duty.
Whilst many big name game developers directly commission their music from composers, others source their soundtracks through music libraries. So, if you’re looking to get in on the growth of gaming, it’s well worth making sure your music is available and easy to find, through music licensing.
Gaming Greats
Even if you don’t call yourself a gamer, chances are you’ve played video games at some point. So which soundtracks stick in your mind? Here’s Pitchfork with their top picks of music for gaming over the last 20 years – see if they match yours.
HERE ARE SOME MORE STORIES YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN
New Resources from Spotify
Spotify have launched a site especially for songwriters, called Noteable. It will bring together news, product updates, and resources, as well as being a hub for songwriters to connect. Find out more in this article from Musically.com.
UMG Withdraws from Triller
Universal Music Group withdrew its repertoire from TikTok rival Triller after continuing disputes over payments to artists, reported MusicWeek. Then, In a further twist, UMG expanded its deal with Tiktok. The battle over music in social media platforms looks to continue for some time.
