Bridging the Gap Between Game Scores & Listeners

In the music industry, we distinguish between the intellectual property itself (the composition/lyrics/sheet music/work) and the recorded audio production of that work (master tapes/master files). A label manages the rights to one or more recordings. Consequently, a label is responsible for the distribution and availability of the recording. This is done in relevant channels by agreement with the artist/composer. Common channels include streaming, downloads, radio, and physical formats. At Nordic Lynx, we enter into licensing agreements with artists and composers. This means that you, as the artist/composer, retain ownership of the recording and the rights to your own music, while Nordic Lynx licenses ("rents") these rights for a given number of years in order to work on making the music available and promoting it. Revenues generated by the music are settled in accordance with a standard record contract and distributed between the artist and the label.

Nordic Lynx is an Oslo-based record label that helps game composers and studios release their music. We handle both digital and physical distribution, as well as merchandise. Additionally, we specialize in sync and music licensing for games and other media, drawing from both our internal and global catalogs.

Nordic Lynx is a record label specializing in video game music and game composers. We see a need and an opening in the market to make more game music accessible. Many people in the gaming industry know very little about how the music industry works, the opportunities for distributing music, and the potential to monetize it—even outside of the game itself. We combine music industry best practices with an approach tailored specifically to video games. Our goal is to help studios and composers distribute soundtrack albums across all platforms using targeted marketing, playlist curation, and internal promotion. Through our partnership with Ja. Group and Jansen Records—who have over a decade of experience releasing Norwegian indie music globally—we provide robust tools for both digital and physical distribution. -Streaming & Playlists: We will get the music out on all streaming services and actively pitch it to relevant playlists through our direct contact with curators at various streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.). -Marketing & Promotion: We will market and promote the music through channels relevant to the gaming industry and gamers, but also reach out to an audience that otherwise has no relationship with gaming. This, in turn, can potentially and indirectly promote the game from which the music is taken. In addition to streaming services and digital/physical distributors, we will work with various media outlets and social media when relevant. -Physical Releases & Merch: We have the capability to press physical products, whether it be vinyl, CDs, cassettes, USB drives, or other formats, if the demand is there. The same applies to merchandise. We already have excellent, established international distribution channels in place for our music digitally through The Orchard, and physically for releases and merch via our warehouse in Spain through Ja. Group. -Networking & Connections: Connecting composers, musicians, and game companies to various projects both within and outside the gaming industry. This could involve games, but also other individual assignments where custom-composed music is needed. -Sync & Licensing: We will be able to take on clearance assignments for external clients regarding the licensing of existing recorded music for use in audiovisual productions across various industries, including film, TV, and commercials. Wherever possible, we will work to include the composers we represent in these projects. We will also be able to proactively represent artists and composers by pitching to productions that need music, either on an exclusive or non-exclusive basis by agreement.

When it comes to game music, the process stops for many once the music is fully recorded and delivered to the game/game developer. We believe this is a missed opportunity—and that there is much more that can be achieved with the music. Even though the music is tied to the game, there are many great synergistic effects to be gained for all parties by allowing it to live its own life alongside the game as well! If you don't take control yourself, fans and users will be able to upload the game music to YouTube or elsewhere on their own, without the artist/composer/rights holder receiving their rightful income. Our thought is that by getting the music properly distributed, it creates added value for the artists that otherwise wouldn't have happened—and the music can reach even more people, perhaps even leading folks who discovered the music first into the game. In addition, we will be able to contribute information and advice, for example regarding music licensing into games, contracts, rights, and the like, and serve as a link between industries, individuals, and various actors. While DIY distribution platforms are effective for basic digital uploads, they lack the specialized support required for video game soundtracks. Standard platforms generally do not provide tailored promotion or playlist pitching unless you handle it yourself. Furthermore, their terms of service often allow music to be shared with third parties for generative AI training. Nordic Lynx is an anti-generative AI label; we never share your music for AI training. We offer a more comprehensive, artist-first partnership with: - Direct Curation: We have direct relationships with major streaming services and actively pitch your music to popular playlists to expand your audience. - Flexibility: You retain control over your catalog. You choose which soundtracks to distribute with us and which to manage independently or through other partners. - Fair Revenue: We structure revenue splits individually, ensuring composers receive an equal or higher percentage of income. - Physical Releases: If a release shows strong potential, we cover all upfront manufacturing and production costs for physical media, offering composers a higher profit share after those costs are recouped.

Although Nordic Lynx is a new venture, our foundation is built on decades of industry expertise. Our co-founders bridge the gap between traditional music business and gaming: Sara Skarpaas, our Boss Lady, brings over a decade of sync and licensing experience from Sony Music Norway; Erik Jansen provides the proven global distribution infrastructure of Jansen Records; and Theo Nogueira contributes 12 years of firsthand experience as a game composer with over 20 titles to his name. This combination ensures we understand both the business of music and the realities of game development.

Video games are highly collaborative, but music operates under unique copyright laws that allows it to generate revenue independently of the game. A successful soundtrack can even serve as a powerful marketing tool to attract new players. We advocate for composers to retain their music copyrights. Nordic Lynx actively works with developers and publishers to show them these benefits and negotiate fair agreements. Our goal is to ensure studios get the rights they need to release their game, while composers keep the rights required to collect external streaming and distribution royalties.

Yes. PROs collect royalties from public performances and broadcasts, which include both music streaming services and certain uses in video games. Because we are based in Norway, our primary partner is TONO, which has reciprocal agreements with other PROs worldwide to collect global royalties. However, if a composer on our roster is affiliated with a different PRO—such as ASCAP, BMI, or PRS—we work directly with those organizations to manage your catalog.

"Yes. If you prefer to retain full independence, we can act strictly as your distributor to get your music onto all major digital streaming platforms. For physical media like vinyl and cassettes, we offer custom manufacturing and distribution packages. Under this model, you pay for the production costs upfront, and you collect the revenue from your physical sales."

We operate two shipping hubs to optimize costs and delivery times. Our Oslo hub handles orders for Norway and Scandinavia to minimize regional shipping rates and avoid local customs duties. Our hub in Spain manages all international fulfillment, ensuring efficient global distribution.

Our standard model for new releases is a 50/50 revenue split after upfront project costs are recouped. However, if you are bringing an existing catalog to Nordic Lynx that requires no initial investment from our end, we operate on an 80/20 split in favor of the composer.

Yes. Unless your contract with the game studio explicitly dictates otherwise, you retain full ownership of your copyrights and master rights. Nordic Lynx operates strictly through exclusive licensing agreements, meaning you grant us the right to distribute and manage the music for a mutually agreed-upon period, after which those rights revert entirely to you.

Our payouts and thresholds are agreed directly with the composers based on individual agreements

Yes, we gladly welcome back-catalogs and previously released soundtracks. We will guide you through the migration process from your current distributor, helping you coordinate the transition seamlessly. Our team ensures that your existing streaming numbers, playlist placements, and metadata are preserved wherever possible during the transfer.

Yes, absolutely. We represent game composers, not just game soundtracks. If you are an artist on our roster creating standalone studio albums, side projects, or back-catalog music outside of the gaming space, we are fully open to distributing and promoting it. Our commitment is to the creators themselves and supporting their entire musical output.

We can accommodate both approaches. If you already have preferred engineers, you are welcome to use them. However, we also maintain a trusted roster of specialized mixing and mastering engineers. These professionals deeply understand the technical distinctions and loudness standards required for digital streaming versus physical media like vinyl and cassettes, ensuring your soundtrack sounds pristine on every format.

Music has a unique emotional impact that extends far beyond the gameplay experience. When a soundtrack is released strategically on streaming platforms, it serves as a continuous, passive marketing tool. Fans regularly listen to game music during their daily routines—while working, studying, or commuting. Streaming algorithms and curated playlists naturally expose these listeners to a composer’s broader catalog. If a player loves a composer's work on one title, they are highly likely to discover and investigate your game through that shared musical connection. Coordinating a soundtrack release alongside your game's launch, major updates, or sales allows you to tap into existing music communities, cross-promote across different gaming genres, and drive measurable traffic back to your storefront.

No, we align our strategy to complement your launch timeline, not disrupt it. However, maximizing the marketing impact of your soundtrack requires careful scheduling. Ideally, we require all mastered tracks, metadata, and album artwork six weeks prior to the target music release date. If development timelines shift and the music is finalized right up until your game's launch, we adapt our approach. Instead of rushing a full album, we may recommend releasing lead singles around the game's launch to build momentum, followed by the full soundtrack later. This flexible staging maintains a steady stream of promotional content and traffic for your game without adding pressure to your development cycle.

Yes. We partner with experienced designers and visual artists who can handle album layout, social media assets, and promotional materials. However, because game studios usually prefer to maintain visual consistency by utilizing their game's existing key art, we frequently collaborate directly with your development team. We can take your existing art assets and adapt them into the correct formats for digital platforms and physical manufacturing.

Content creator streams are a vital marketing tool for games, and automated Content ID systems often accidentally flag, mute, or demonetize streamers who are simply playing a game. To protect your game's community and visibility, our policy is to opt out of automated YouTube and Twitch Content ID networks for our game soundtrack releases. This guarantees that streamers can broadcast your game without facing copyright strikes or audio muting. To protect the composer’s rights outside of game streams, we handle copyright infringement through manual rights management. If someone re-uploads the music in an unauthorized context, we will directly submit a claim to the platform to either monetize or remove the content.

You can submit your music by visiting our Contact Page and sending us an inquiry. To help our team review your work efficiently, please include a brief introduction about yourself and your projects, along with streaming links (such as SoundCloud, Disco, or Spotify) to your music.

Through the years our team has developed a network in games, tv, film and trailers, which we are constantly monitoring and receiving requests from briefs and to which we submit the music from our catalog.

We can accommodate both approaches. If you already have preferred engineers, you are welcome to use them. However, we also maintain a trusted roster of specialized mixing and mastering engineers. These professionals deeply understand the technical distinctions and loudness standards required for digital streaming versus physical media like vinyl and cassettes, ensuring your soundtrack sounds pristine on every format.