Soundtracks streamed millions of times
Video games have become a legal sport, with a global value of $21.3 billion, influencing music and music sales as well as other sports. A study by online gaming service provider U4GM charted the top 10 tracks gamers listen to based on Spotify plays.
Key findings: Undertale tops the list at #1 with 1.57 billion plays on Spotify. In second place was The ElderScrolls V: Skyrim with 841 million views, followed by Persona 5 (438 million views) and Red Dead Redemption II in third place. (6th place, 180 million plays), Cuphead (list rounded, 113 million). This ranking highlights the diversity of game soundtracks, from jazz and funk to rock and folk genres.
“Game soundtracks have come a long way from the old 8-bit songs,” says U4GM spokesperson Wai-Fai Cou. “Today we’re getting full orchestral scores and even collaborations with famous musicians to create tracks that will stay in your head long after you quit fighting an impossible boss in a fit of rage. Video game music has evolved a lot over the years.
Spotify currently has over 8,000 playlists with the words gamer or gaming in the title or description, reflecting the popularity of this music category.
In addition to streaming success, game music has also been recognized with awards over the years. Last year, the Recording Academy added the rubric of Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media, giving the genre its own Grammy category.
“Gamers are listening to these soundtracks while gaming, adding them to playlists, working out, and even using them to relax and sleep.” says Cou. It’s no wonder that soundtracks for games like Undertale and Skyrim are streamed millions, even billions of times. They’ve become a part of pop culture in their own right, and players can’t get enough of them. ”
