Why Making Music for Video Games is the Next Big Thing for Artists

In today’s gaming world, making music for video games has emerged as a creative and profitable opportunity for artists, allowing them to showcase their work to a massive and diverse audience. And with it, the relationship between music and gaming has also transformed.

It’s no secret that gaming has become a core part of Gen Zs’ lives. According to a Deloitte survey, over 90% of Gen Zers in the US, UK, Germany, Brazil, and Japan play video games for an average of 11.5 hours per week. This has resulted in gaming having a significant influence on their music consumption. As a result, musicians have found innovative ways to connect with their fans, including performing in virtual video games.

From simple sound effects to complex, multi-instrumental compositions, video game soundscapes have come a long way, inspiring new art and commercial opportunities. Video game companies have taken on the role of record labels, releasing original music to great success. League of Legends, for instance, has multiple virtual bands releasing music under Riot Games and has garnered millions of followers outside the game ecosystem. In fact, it’s the highest-ranked video game artist on Chartmetric, with a Spotify popularity equal to that of established artists like Bob Marley & The Wailers and Deftones.

As the video game industry continues to grow, so does the opportunity for artists to expand their audience and generate revenue by creating music for video games. Here are some reasons why artists should consider making music for video games.

1. Increased exposure Video games have a massive and diverse audience that spans across various demographics. By creating music for a popular video game, an artist can reach new listeners who may have never heard their music before. Moreover, video game soundtracks are often streamed on music platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and even Youtube, further increasing an artist’s exposure.
2. Creative freedom One of the benefits of making music for video games is the creative freedom it offers. Video game soundtracks often require unique and diverse sounds to match the game’s theme or story. This means artists have more flexibility to experiment with new styles and sounds, without the pressure of making a hit song.
3. Collaborative opportunities Creating music for video games also presents opportunities for collaboration with other artists and game developers. For instance, the popular video game Fortnite has collaborated with several artists, including Marshmello, Travis Scott, and Ariana Grande, for virtual concerts within the game. Such collaborations not only generate significant revenue but also provide a new creative outlet for artists for making music for video games.
4. Steady revenue stream Unlike traditional music releases that rely on album sales or streaming royalties, video game soundtracks provide a steady revenue stream. According to a report by SuperData, video game music generated $1.4 billion in revenue in 2020, with streaming accounting for 84% of that revenue. For an artist, creating music for video games can be a lucrative source of income.
5. Longevity Another advantage of making music for video games is the longevity of the soundtrack. Unlike a typical album release, video game soundtracks remain relevant and in-demand for years, if not decades. Many classic video game soundtracks from the 80s and 90s are still beloved by fans and continue to be streamed and downloaded today.

Creating music for video games is a profitable and creatively fulfilling endeavor for artists, as it provides a variety of benefits. The increased exposure, creative freedom, collaborative opportunities, steady revenue stream, and longevity of video game soundtracks make it an attractive option for artists looking to expand their audience and revenue streams. This industry has become a success in its own right, with companies releasing original music and achieving commercial success. The relationship between music and gaming is stronger than ever, with video game music influencing music consumption among gamers. As technology advances, we can expect video game soundscapes to become even more complex and innovative, with music becoming an integral part of the gaming experience.