As Nietzsche once said: “Without music, life would be a mistake.” Although we are not sure of the implications for the hearing impaired – the spirit of the message – the art that gives life meaning lives on. Music reaches us in every part of our lives, and the entertainment industry is no different. It's not something many of us think about, but the forms of music used in the myriad forms of this scene vary greatly. Here, we explore these models and the reasons behind the modifications they use.
Basic model
The purest forms of music are those in their original, recorded state. These are performances where the artist's vision can be captured and presented without compromise. From going to live shows to putting on a vinyl record, playing an MP3, or streaming on Spotify, society considers this form of interaction with music to be the most direct and the most free from interference.
Music in films and television
When you move to a visual medium, music is taken from the forefront and placed in the back seat. Rather than being the entire driving force, music in films and television serves to enhance what is happening on screen. Here, he captures elements such as the character's mood or the feelings surrounding the place.
In films and television, traditional recorded music is usually heavily modified when it appears on screen. Often times, we will hear the chorus or the most evocative part of the song before it fades out.
There are also elements such as leitmotifs or smaller tracks created that give an authentic feel to the on-screen action. Similar approaches are found in original orchestral or ensemble pieces, which can relate more closely to the film's theme and message than to already existing music borrowed from an outside source.
Music in other sectors
Music in iGaming can find itself in an interesting place depending largely on the type of game. Online gambling offers a range of examples here, both in original and licensed music. Original slot titles like Tiki Fruits and Wolf Gold use shorter, original paths to help players stay engaged with their themes. On the other hand, there are titles like The Goonies and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, which adapt tracks from the names themselves to build a stronger connection to the original property.
Likewise, YouTube and other social media videos may rely on short or repetitive instrumentals. This is ideal for longer forms such as YouTube videos and gambling games, where a person may consume media for long periods of time. The lack of words may also help users focus on the content and not get distracted. Depending on the platform, this could be a public domain piece of music or something more creative and paid for by creators.
One of the strengths of music is its flexibility, and it is this flexibility that makes it useful in other forms of media. Whether you're watching movies, TV, or gaming, there's plenty of room for exploration and experimentation. Flexibility gives artists room to explore and profit, it gives us more of what we love, and perhaps just as importantly, it helps us justify the price of our EarPods.
