Are the creators of sport-based games more inclined to incorporate licensed music?
Commercial or copyright music refers to songs that require permission (a licence) to use for commercial purposes, such as in films, TV shows, and video games. In a recent article by Blokur, highlighting the top five games that use commercial music, we identified that four out of five that used licensed music were sport-based, but why is this?
Studies show that the use of music is linked to positively impacting performance in sports. According to a 2008 report by Brunel University’s School of Sport and Education, using music in exercise can increase endurance by 15%. Not only does music serve as an energy boost, but it also adds to the excitement and drama of the sport.
This concept can be translated to digital games, making the gameplay experience more realistic and keeping players engaged and focused.
EA Games and their preference for commercial music
As reported in our previous blog, game developer EA, Electronic Arts, boasts three of the top five best selling sports games that incorporate commercial music, making it clear the company understands the benefits that popular music brings to the table. EA is not alone. Activision, developers of games such as Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Guitar Hero, have also reaped the benefits of including commercial music in their soundtracks.
Steve Schnur, head of Music at EA, believes music is vital to the emotional impact of video games. Discussing how he selects the soundtracks for games such as Madden and FIFA in a Rolling Stone interview, Schnur stated, “All I knew back then when I started was what I didn’t want to do — which was, sound like the [actual] NFL or soccer. We’d just be Queen and “We are the Champions” every year. What I wanted was music discovery. We didn’t want to be restricted by what some corporation was telling us tested well.”
Schnur is not alone in his recognition of the advantages that a variety of music brings to the gaming experience. This was further substantiated by a 2021 MIDIA research study, which discovered that gamers tend to stream music for longer periods of time, surpassing even music streaming service subscribers.
The future of music in sports-based video games: A promising outlook
In summary, the inclusion of music in sports and video games has been shown to have a positive impact on performance and overall experience. The success of developers like EA Games, who prioritise music discovery over corporate demands, highlights the importance of music in the gaming industry.
As gamers continue to stream music for longer periods of time, the role of music in gaming will only continue to grow. Blokur’s digital licensing service offers a promising solution to the complex issue of music licensing and has already gained the trust of major gaming-related companies like Reactional Music and an international video game publisher with over 100 games.
If you want to simplify music licensing so your team can focus on creating the best games possible, get in touch with Blokur today!
