How to Distribute Your Music in Games and Films: A Guide for Composers 🎬🎮

If you're a composer or producer looking to get your music placed in films, video games, and apps, you're entering one of the most exciting—and competitive—areas of music licensing. Whether you're aiming to license full cinematic scores or catchy loops for indie games, this guide will show you exactly where and how to distribute your music for maximum exposure and earning potential.

Step 1: Understand the Two Paths — Films vs. Games

While both industries need music, the channels to distribute and license are different:

• Films and TV often require cinematic, emotional, and highly produced music.

• Video games and apps prefer loopable, dynamic, and mood-based tracks tailored to gameplay.

Step 2: Choose the Right Platforms for Licensing

For Film & TV Licensing

These platforms cater to filmmakers and video creators looking for high-quality, cinematic music:

• Artlist.io – Curated licensing platform; must apply as an artist.
  🎯 Submit your music here

• Epidemic Sound – Offers licensing for social, film, and games; application required.

• Musicbed – Premium platform used by filmmakers and ad agencies.

• Songtradr – Upload your tracks and submit directly to licensing opportunities across media.

• AudioJungle / Pond5 – Royalty-free libraries with mass exposure (non-exclusive).

For Video Games & Apps

Game developers look for music through asset marketplaces or licensing platforms:

• Unity Asset Store – Upload loopable tracks and music packs directly to Unity devs.

• Epic Games Marketplace – Unreal Engine-based developers browse here for audio packs.

• Itch.io / GameDev.net – Indie dev communities looking for collaborators or licensing deals.

• Soundstripe / Audiio.com – Subscription-based libraries that also pitch to app developers.

Step 3: Create and Tag Your Music Correctly

Before uploading anywhere, your music should be:

• Loopable (especially for games)

• High-quality WAVs

• Professionally mixed and mastered

• Tagged with:

  • 🎵 Genre (Cinematic, 8-bit, Ambient)

  • 🎮 Use case (Menu Music, Battle Theme, Background Loop)

  • 📏 BPM, key, instrumentation, mood, etc.

Pro tip: Offer stems and alt versions (e.g., 30s edit, underscore, loop).

Step 4: Build an Online Composer Portfolio

Use platforms like:

• Soundlister.com – A directory for film/game audio professionals. Create a free portfolio with links to your demos, roles, and experience.

  • You can’t upload music files directly, but you can link to SoundCloud, YouTube, Bandcamp, or your personal site.

  • Apply to game and film jobs directly from the Soundlister job board.

• Bandcamp or your own website – Showcase and sell your music licensing-ready as downloadable packs.

Step 5: Pitch to Game Developers and Indie Studios

Many developers are looking for music—especially if it's affordable and ready to go.

• Join indie game forums on Itch.io, Discord, GameDev.net

• Reach out to developers on social platforms like Twitter/X, LinkedIn, or TikTok

• Mention that your music is ready for licensing and link your demo reel or packs

Bonus: Network Through G.A.N.G. and Events

• Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G.) is a must-join for composers wanting to break into games.

• Attend events like GDC, IndieCade, or virtual composer meetups.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to wait for a studio to discover you. With platforms like Artlist, Songtradr, Unity Asset Store, and Soundlister, you can distribute your music directly to filmmakers and game developers today. Start small, stay consistent, and keep building your licensing catalog—and your music could be the soundtrack of the next great film or game.