I wonder if this translates into increased listenership of “real” classical music. It isn’t a big leap from VGM to the romantic composers, for example, or even to opera.
Classical musician here. VGM was my gateway drug. So it definitely happens!
This headline is hilarious. It directly contradicts itself. Renaissance means rebirth. Video game music needs to have been very popular and then fallen out of popularity for that claim to be true. And then it says now more than ever it is being appreciated. Meaning it never had this much popularity. Meaning a renaissance is literally not what is happening. Good for composers though! Well earned appreciation for sure. I’m not mad at it or anything, just wanted to point out how stupid the headline is lol
I think this may actually be the case though? Think back to the early 2000’s where video game symphonic concerts were getting played on G4, and Tommy Tallarico made claims of the largest audience for a symphony.
Video game symphonies just weren’t popular after that from the end of 2009, honestly even 2008 maybe, all the way through just a couple years ago. The numbers for symphonies are starting to grow again, but far beyond and in much wider breadth of what it once was because of how much good music games have now.
I think it may actually be quite accurate, it’s just an already niche subject. If you didn’t know about them in the early 2000’s then it’s easy to think this is the first time they’re getting recognized, but that’s not the case. It’s just been a couple decades.
Edit: to clarify - I do think video game music has mostly been popular, I more mean specifically about video game concerts/symphony performances. They were big, really big (for the relatively new medium of video games). Then they died for 15 years. Now they’re coming back.
One of the earlier games to have an actual soundtrack was Grim Fandango. A quarter century later, the music and game still hold up amazingly well.
Worth listening to. And playing.
Say what you will about Hogwarts Legacy, but the music was absolutely on point and enhanced the experience immensely.
Still awaiting the day that hoyomix will be recognized for their work
