Music Rights and Royalties for Games Developers
Music in games is just as important as music in film and TV for scene setting and mood. Whether it’s custom commissioned works, or licencing existing works, the right song in the right situation can make all the difference. From the rhythm based music levels in Rayman, the stress music from Sonic or the superb chapter of Control’s Ashtray Maze, music sets the tone, adding to graphics, narrative and design to make an experience unforgettable.
This doesn’t just apply to AAA or big budget games, Independent Games Developers are commissioning and using music to phenomenal effect, but unfortunately, put off music licencing by the opacity and ‘them vs us’ attitude that the music and games industries can have towards each other.
Below, you can download our Game Dev Checklist which will give you some starting points. This should be useful for any stage of development but especially so if;
Commissioning music
Licencing and existing track
Using a cover of an existing track
Looking at monetisation post-release
Wanting to ensure that licences are cleared properly
Implementing streamer-safe music policies
Setting up works and recordings to collect royalties
These are a few of the things that Wasted State Music can deal with on your behalf, becoming your Music Licencing & Rights Department, helping you avoid issues such as DMCA takedown notices, rights conflicts, or missed revenue. We work around your development schedule, but the earlier we’re involved, the more we can mitigate any potential issues down the line and insure a trouble free musical path to your Gold Master.
We can also deal with all relevant registrations, making the music in your game Streamer Safe, as well as
Download the checklist or get in touch now!
How Do I Licence Music For My Game?
There are two sides of music rights. The first, is the Master Rights.
The Master Rights are the rights to the recording of a particular song or piece of music. These are traditionally held by the party that pays for the recording. In the good old days, this was usually the Record Labels, but with the proliferation of home production and studios, and more information being available to artists, the Master Rights are now also just as likely to lie with the artist. In the case of a commissioned sound track recording, depending on the contracts used, this would lie either with the developer, or the publisher.
Publishing Rights cover the writing side of the song or piece of music. Again, depending on the contracts agreed, these rights might lie with the original writer, or belong to the commissioning entity (developer, publisher etc).
Whether you’re commissioning original music, licensing commercial tracks or working with cover versions, getting things cleared properly early in development can avoid expensive complications later.
To make sure you don’t run into problems once your game has been released, you need to make sure that both sides are cleared and that the rights you clear match your intended use.
Unlike film and television, music in games is often tied to interactive, repeatable and streamable use cases, which can create additional considerations around monetisation, digital platforms, long-term licensing and online content creation.
This can even apply to commissioned works, which can sometimes catch developers out. To avoi unnecessary DMCA takedowns, monetisation problems and streaming restrictions, it’s important that music rights are properly cleared, registered and covered for the intended uses.
With over 25 years of experience in the music industry, Wasted State Music provides support with rights management, licensing and royalties throughout the development and release cycle of a game. Whether working with a large studio or an independent developer, services can be adapted to suit the scale, budget and requirements of each project.
Book a Music Rights Health Check
Music chosen, composer paid, agreements signed. But does everything cover what you actually want to do with the game?
A composer agreement might cover the music in-game but leave the soundtrack release unclear. A library licence might have restrictions you hadn’t considered. You might have permission to use a recording, but still have questions about the underlying song.
The Game Music Rights Healthcheck is a practical review of the music in your game, the documentation you have, and your plans for using it. It helps establish what is in place, what needs clarified, and what should be dealt with next.
What we look at
We look at where the music has come from, who owns the relevant rights, and how the agreements and licences supplied relate to your plans.
This can include commissioned music, existing recordings, production music and music created within the studio. We also look at uses beyond the game itself, including trailers, promotional material, gameplay streaming and a separate soundtrack release.
If something is missing or unclear, we flag it and explain why it matters.
What you receive
You receive a written report setting out the findings, any gaps or questions, and recommended next steps.
A 30-minute follow-up call gives us time to talk through the report, answer questions and discuss what needs attention first.
You should come away knowing what needs done and where further support may be useful.
What’s included
The standard Healthcheck covers:
One game.
Up to 10 music tracks or cues.
Up to three agreements or licences.
One soundtrack release plan, where relevant.
A written report and 30-minute follow-up call.
If your project involves more music or a larger set of agreements, get in touch and we can agree a suitable scope before starting.
What do you need to provide?
A short outline of the game, a list of the music used or planned, and the agreements and licences you currently have. We’ll also ask about release plans and any particular concerns.
You don’t need to work out what is missing before sending it over. Finding those gaps is part of the review. If you don’t know who owns something or whether a particular use is covered, just say so.
What happens if something needs sorted?
The Healthcheck identifies issues and recommends next steps. Obtaining permissions, negotiating licences, amending agreements or carrying out registrations would be separate work, with the scope and cost agreed beforehand.
Pricing
£395 / €475 / US$550
Includes the review of one game, up to 10 tracks or cues and three agreements, one soundtrack release plan, a written report and a 30-minute follow-up call.
If your project falls outside this scope, get in touch and we can quote for the work required.