How the 'Minecraft' Score Became Big Business for Its Composer
16 comments
·July 16, 2025pityJuke
It is incredible how Minecraft, and the soundtrack in particular, was created by unknown part timers.
A remix of Mice on Venus [0] is one of the few things that can make me cry on cue. There is something so powerful about it.
Doesn’t help it is often used in Technoblade tributes because of this video. [1]
donatj
It really annoys me that Microsoft brought in new composers. You're so insistent on "owning" the music you give up on a major part of what made the game what it is today.
darknavi
For what it's worth the latest album (Chase the Skies) has some _very_ early Minecraft vibes.
jsiepkes
I get why they want that. Otherwise every time they want to do something "out of the box" with Minecraft they have to go through corporate and IP lawyers first.
vintermann
The only thing they couldn't do with C418's music, was to publish "Minecraft: the official soundtrack" and take all the royalties themselves. Nor could they claim YouTube videos for having Minecraft's original music in it (they did it several times "accidentally" when the movie came out, and stole a couple of million from YouTube makers).
So no, I don't buy the "they'd have to go through lawyers" excuse. They could still have had blanket licenses for using the music in all sorts of ways, they just wouldn't own it.
encom
I'm further annoyed that Microsoft stole Minecraft from me. I can't play a game a paid for. Absolute scumbags of the highest order.
Novosell
Hmm? What'd they do to it?
sneak
They require a Microsoft account. There was a period of time where you could port over your Mojang account, but I and many other people did not, because I didn't want a Microsoft account or to have to agree to the Microsoft Terms of Service, a new legal contract which didn't exist at the time I paid for Minecraft. It's a classic bait and switch.
Then, the account migration window closed, and Mojang accounts stopped working. Now I and thousands of others can't play the game we paid good money for.
Fuck Notch and Microsoft both.
rollcat
The later composers for Minecraft have also crafted some exceptional pieces. Lena Raine's work was an instant hit. Nothing better than playing a Pigstep music disc at the end of a speedrun (because memes are more important than PBs).
vintermann
Pigstep is OK, because the music disks were a bit oddball anyway, but I really don't like the non-c418 in game music. They feel out of place.
It also an issue that the reason c418 didn't get to keep doing the Minecraft music, was that he refused to do it on "work for hire, sign over all the rights" terms.
chrisdalke
It really is great, haunting, nostalgic music that I associate with a formative time in my childhood. Beyond the game it’s also fantastic deep focus & coding soundtrack.
If you haven’t heard it, listen to Sweden or Aria Math.
Deeksha676
I really dont like people sharing paywalled articles, here’s the non paywalled version for those who are curious to read it: https://archive.ph/Erzmg
Aside: if you enjoy the Minecraft music albums, you should definitely check out C418's new album for Wanderstop that was released earlier this year. It has a lot of the same feeling to it, and I personally like it even more than the Minecraft albums now.
Tracks like Wanderstop Part 2, Earl Grey Part 2, Cinnamon Part 3, and The Forest are good places to start--it's three and a half hours long, so there's a lot to comb through.