Music in Esports: On the Convergence of the Music and Gaming Industries

Abstract

This book invites the reader to expand their idea of esports as an independent niche and consider it an integral part of a growing multi‑ and transmedia ecosystem that includes the global entertainment industry, where music plays an essential role. The music present in and around esports games is an integral part of how they are communicated and mediated and, as such, holds a central role in binding their narratives cohesively and coherently to appeal to their audiences. Popular music theory is placed at the foundation of the issues raised in the chapters, as it is taken as a cornerstone for linking the esports international scene with the music industry. This text uses specific case studies from popular esports to support and illustrate each chapter, including League of Legends, Counter‑Strike, and Fortnite. This book will be of great interest to researchers and students in the fields of esports, game design and development, musicology, and media studies.