Summary
Nintendo released the new music appon October 30. Where other gaming companies have simply released their music to existing streaming platforms like Spotify, Nintendo has opted to make streaming its music exclusive to its own app. Fans of Nintendo games old and new can find tracks they’ll love across the app’s various playlists and game libraries. Music from games likeZelda,Mario,Pokemon, and even Wii themes are available to listen to in the app.
Nintendo Music released an update on iOS and Android phones. It solves a problem on Android where the application would not start properly. On iOS, Nintendo simply states in the patch notes, “We’ve fixed some issues to allow for a smoother experience when using the app.” What issues it may have fixed is unknown, but it should provide a better experience for iOS users overall. The app also recently addedDonkey Kong Country 2songs, adding to the ever-increasing list ofplaylists and game titles on Nintendo Music.
Nintendo is well known for its long history of beloved video game music. It’s also been very protective of its IP. So much so that fans uploading music on YouTube have receivedcopyright claims from Nintendo. Fans are hopeful that Nintendo will release a large library of music for the app. This way, people don’t have to struggle to find their favorite video game tunes on sites like YouTube.
Nintendo has been in some controversy for its handling of its music, including for the new Nintendo Music app. In the app, when selecting the credits for each song, it simply labels the copyright for the track and not the composer’s name. This has been explained as a typical Japanese business practice, but that hasn’t kept Nintendo from receiving complaints from overseas. Famous Nintendo composers like Koji Kondo andDonkey KongcomposerGrant Kirkhope are not credited on their tracks, and some songs are up to interpretation as to who composed them. Fans have taken to social media to show their disappointment, but Nintendo has yet to make a statement on the issue.
