Laced Records: Video Game Developers Are Missing Out on Lucrative Soundtrack Opportunities

The video game industry has witnessed a surge in demand for game soundtracks, leading to the establishment of games-centric labels like Laced Records. Founded by CEO Danny Kelleher in 2015, Laced Records has collaborated with nearly 80 IPs across 250 releases, partnering with prominent clients such as Devolver, Bethesda, Capcom, Sega, Ubisoft, and Bandai Namco. The company's record label is in high demand, with a recent partnership with Remedy to release the Alan Wake 2 soundtrack, featuring Petri Alanko's original score and in-game songs by Poe and Martti Suosalo. Laced Records has seen increased demand for physical content, including vinyl and CD releases, although sales performance varies greatly between AAA and indie titles. According to Kelleher, the company is committed to supporting indie developers and maintaining a balance between clients. Laced also aims to educate game developers about music business models, highlighting the importance of registering music copyrights and collecting royalties. The company has set up a publishing business to register music copyrights on behalf of its clients and has begun collecting mechanical and performance royalties. In addition to its audio services and record label, Laced is expanding into traditional gaming merchandise, having partnered with Devolver to design, manufacture, and sell merchandise items. Kelleher's vision for the future is to streamline the business, bringing in a management structure to effectively manage each department independently. Ultimately, Kelleher wants to see video game music succeed as a medium, with Laced Records playing a key role in establishing a robust business model and structure for the industry.