It’s never been easier for new game creators to obtain music licenses, but generating revenue has never been more complicated. Thinking long term, musicians can generate revenue and reach an audience through these deals if the games become popular.

Streaming platforms like YouTube or sharing music with friends are good ways to discover music, but video games are an often overlooked option. From Guitar Hero has Tony Hawk’s professional skater series, music in games has been and will continue to be a source of revenue for the music industry.

Players not only chat while playing, but also listen to background music alongside the in-game music chosen by the developers. The music and video game industries understand this position and use this channel to influence musical habits.

To find new audiences, musicians must make inroads with gaming companies. The music industry has fought for decades to control music distribution, but streaming platforms like YouTube have allowed musicians to control their own distribution channels. Musicians can instead speak directly to gaming companies and YouTubers who might need alternative music to reach new audiences.

Games as a distribution method are more important than ever for musicians. As the gaming community continues to grow, so do the opportunities: live gaming competitions, film adaptations, and even “Let’s Play” style YouTube videos offer a musician the opportunity to reach a new audience . To capitalize on this reach and expand the music industry’s distribution channels, record labels should look beyond the initial scope of the game and see the audience’s wide-angle audience. Video game marketing strategy has a lot to do with music budgets. Some developers may spend huge amounts of money on music licensing, knowing that a big artist can attract a user base to play the game that may not have existed originally.

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As revenue grows through in-game purchases, gameplay integrations, and more, licensing instruments used for music must evolve. The emergence of new experiences and technologies will likely force the industry to change. Indie game developers are now turning to AI-generated music to retain the rights to their music, which is obviously another way to reduce their costs and potentially create a much larger revenue stream beyond the game. Many publishers know that music associated with a game can have long-term value.

The crossover potential is clear for musicians entering the gaming community. Today, they also require matchmaking because there are as many game developers as there are musicians. For game studios, accessing music libraries has never been easier. Libraries were created with the goal of helping developers choose from hundreds of thousands of tracks, and access has never been easier.

The business is complicated but has become simpler in some areas as technology has made it easier to access music through potential game and development studios. Both products are art, but getting a game into production, development, and release is a very long and winding journey. All musicians and game studios must protect their intellectual property (IP) before entering into a partnership. If the game attracts a large audience, the need is even greater.

Musicians, television and film creators must all register their content for content protection. While registering your content for content protection on platforms like YouTube doesn’t protect you from a bad business partner, it does protect your intellectual property from misuse on YouTube.