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Music and Video Games

When you typically think of great music achievements, the world of video games doesn’t jump to mind as quickly as say a concert hall or a CD. But increasingly we’re seeing more and more effort and attention being put into the composition and production of video games. As this medium becomes more and more popular, particularly with teenagers and young adults, music in video games really starts to shine.

These days, kids are introduced to video games–and music–at a very early age. My daughter, who plays a lot on Club Penguin and Poptropica, will often be humming the music she hears while enjoying the adventures and quests in those games. My older son, plays a number of console games including very high production titles on the XBox and the music is often very well done. We have of course seen the incorporation of known classics (Carmina Burana, anyone?) make their way into video games just as they did with action movies before, but there are an increasing number of original compositions as well. Some more recent games, such as Pottermore use very little in the way of music but instead rely on ambient sounds to convey a mood or setting.

I remember reading a wonderful NPR story on the evolution of music in video games from the 70′s genre of Pong and other simple games through the present. Whereas early games merely reproduced simple blips and beeps on their chips, today’s games incorporate full sound, even in Dolby Digital. Music in video games have certainly come a very long way.

Celebrating Music and Entrepreneurs

Musicians and entrepreneurs share a lot of common traits. Both are celebrated for their creativity, drive, discipline and passion. Each knows that rewards come from hard work and they are eager and willing to take risks and create their own success from opportunities that they seek out. Music professionals who think like entrepreneurs can approach their career more resourcefully, and are capable of generating successful opportunities that allow them to prosper and grow in their art.

Is It About the Money or the Music?

A common conundrum facing successful musicians (as opposed to the more typical starving variety) is maintaining the balance between the money and the music. More often than not, musicians follow their passion for the art and beauty of music. Regardless of instrument played, or general skill and ability, the passion is the unifying element that keeps musicians practicing and playing, day in and out. But money pays the bills. And even for the most pure and artistic among us, money can be nice. It can mean the difference between driving a clunker or new car to practice, or getting a restful night’s sleep on a feather bed vs. a cheap mattress. For some, the money factor can loom quite large once success begins to knock on the door. And that’s where maintaining the proper balance between doing what you love for the simple sake of doing it and the desire to make a respectable living from your art.

Of course, not every musician wants to make money. Some pursue music as a simple pastime or for social connections. But for those who dive into music on a full-time basis, money certainly enters the picture. And the move you dive in, the murkier the water gets.