Alvhin Adendorff
When it was announced that South African rapper Yugen Blakrok would have her track “Metamorphosis” placed on the Cyberpunk 2077 soundtrack there was little fanfare in local media, perhaps due to a lack of understanding of how significant such a placement can be.
Cyberpunk 2077 has sold about 15 million copies to date since its release last year in December. Not only is this a massive audience, but the way the music is presented adds to the chances of converting new fans.
Music soundtracks in films or video games are often used to establish mood for the audience.
In-world music, that is music that exists in the world of the story itself, is also an especially incredible tool for conveying details about that world.
When Obi-Wan Kenobi sliced off a villain’s arm in the Mos Eisley Cantina in Star Wars, the place went quiet. A few seconds later the band started playing again. That musical cue showed you everything you needed to know about the film’s setting, a rough bar where violence was an everyday occurrence.
The video-game industry is no stranger to this technique, but what about the musicians whose songs are chosen to feature in them?
Video games are emerging as one of the main avenues for artists to market their music and reach new audiences.
In-game music is often presented on fictitious radio stations that exist in the game’s world. Unlike real-life radio stations, there is a limit to the music available, meaning songs are repeated more often.
The gold standard for in-world music in video games is Grand Theft Auto.
In 2001, GTA first allowed the game’s main character to listen to the radio. Since then, it has expanded to 22 in-game radio stations in the game’s latest edition, GTA V. The stations feature A-list celebrity hosts including Frank Ocean and Flying Lotus.
Despite being released in 2013, the game has remained one of the most successful in history, selling over 120 million copies worldwide. As of 2018, players of GTA V had listened to over 75 billion minutes of music.
If a song is selected to be an in-game radio station, it is more than likely going to be listened to dozens of times by millions of people across the world.
Image source: YouTube
