Are video games the next frontier for musicians?

The recent Fortnite event featuring Ariana Grande, as well as the many other musical events that have taken place on the game platform, may give an insight into the next leap musicians may want to take.

There has recently been a common trend of new games featuring famous actors, singers, or even just general celebrity figures in the hopes of not only increasing sales but also boosting the popularity of the artists and celebrities featured. In the long term, this trend is likely to become more and more popular, and we may even see video games becoming a prominent source of outreach for musicians.

This article explores the topic of video games as a new outlet for musicians to reach new heights of popularity, as well as all the reasons behind the development.

Real life vs the digital world

Everywhere one looks, more and more industries are beginning to become more focused on the digital landscape, and the reasons why are self-evident. Gone are the days when one had to travel potentially hundreds of miles to visit an entertainment complex: now all one has to do is log on to an online platform or gaming website site (like Netflix or https://www.mrgreen.com/ie/).

While the in-person experience of a gig, the theatre, or a film or game with friends can’t be beaten, there is a plethora of advantages to opting for an online portal. There is no travel time and there are no travel expenses, little effort is required, and people can access entertainment comfortably in their own homes. In addition, for one reason or another, some may not be able to travel long distances to listen to their favourite performers, and for them the possibility of simply logging on to the most recent in-game concert or event is very attractive. Because of this, there is beginning to be a big change in how every industry operates.

In reality, it’s much easier for musicians to feature a new album or song in a game than it is to tour around the world – though, of course, the buzz of a real tour with in-person audiences cannot be beaten.

A vast audience potential for more

With the mind-boggling popularity of gaming nowadays, the number of people a musician can reach through a game is astronomical.

For a musician or artist, the main goal is to get one’s music heard by as many people as possible, so it makes sense to consider a route that gets material out there and in the ears of the most people, which is why involvement in video games has become an important asset in a musician’s portfolio.

The upshot is that although real-life events like London Grammar and Jorja Smith playing at Victoria Park reliably sell out, music fans may see events like this happen within games too, not only giving musicians a bigger stage, but also helping them to be more profitable.

Enticing incentives and reduced expenses

Perhaps a driving factor that encourages musicians to showcase new albums or songs through games instead of live events or TV is the fact that being featured on a video game has a multitude of incentives in terms of reach, while at the same time being a cheaper option.

A worldwide tour can be a gruelling experience, and it’s possible to showcase to comparable or greater numbers of fans or potential fans online via a video game. Furthermore, when the remote option is also the cheaper option, it isn’t to be sniffed at. Presenting a new album or piece of music through a video game is potentially more profitable and less time consuming.

There are recent studies that suggest that gaming is now more popular than TV and film, and so it makes sense for musicians to explore the route to maintain popularity. If they are able to leverage the enormous appeal of video gaming to their advantage, they will have a new platform to increase their influence, not to mention allowing gaming studios access the significant benefits of featuring musicians in their games.

Within the next five years the industry may be very likely to see this shift, with more and more musicians appearing in some of the world’s favourite games. Whether or not you think this is a good or bad thing is up for debate, but it looks like a reality that might have to be accepted at some point.

The editorial unit