Abstract
Video game music is one of the fastest developing music genres of the 21st century, demonstrating incredible commercial success and wide-spread popularity. Since the mid-1980s, jazz has significantly influenced both the compositional and performance aspects of this new music genre. Despite these accolades and characteristics, video game music has received minimal attention within jazz institutions. This essay strives to bring more attention to this genre, offering a new and different academic perspective for consideration. To achieve this goal, the essay provides detailed investigations of accomplishments within the video game music industry, as well as an analysis of the benefits that this genre can provide within the context of the jazz academe. The research and analyses culminate in a rationalization for the inclusion of video game music in jazz institutions of higher education.