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The Secret Agent, AI Transparency, and the Soundtrack of the Marathon Video Game

The Secret Agent, AI Transparency, and the Soundtrack of the Marathon Video Game

Nathan Fields
March 06, 2026

The Rareform Rundown #103

Hello Friends,

Nathan here. Been slammed lately but wanted to pop in and share a couple things. First off, I hope all is well in your world. I’ll be talking a bit about how artificial intelligence is becoming a bigger part of the music creation process and how more people across the industry are starting to experiment with it. I’ll also touch on the upcoming game Marathon. Bungie recently shared some insight into the score. Composer Ryan Lott and Chase Combs explained that the music was not built around a main character, but around the planet Tau Ceti and the history of the colony that once lived there.

Let’s go!

New projects + music we are looking for

PROJECTS

Hyped to share our track Midnight Writer by Marco Micucci was featured in this spot for The Secret Agent. Big thanks to our friends at LIVEBAD for having us on this one!

Good to see this one out in the world. My track System Break with Darby Phillips was featured in this spot for Sirat. Shoutout to the team at LIVEBAD for bringing us in on this one.

Artificial intelligence is becoming a bigger part of the music creation process. From generating sounds to helping design visuals, AI tools are now showing up in many different stages of production. As that shift continues, streaming platforms are starting to explore how they can bring more transparency to the process.

Apple Music recently introduced a new feature that allows record labels and distributors to flag when artificial intelligence was used during the creation of music or related content. The update adds a new layer of metadata that helps identify whether AI played a role in a track or visual asset.

It is a small change on the surface, but it reflects a larger conversation happening across the industry. Artists, labels, and listeners are all beginning to ask how AI should fit into the creative landscape and how much visibility people should have into the tools behind the music.

Read our blog on our site for a closer look at Apple Music’s new AI transparency feature and what it could mean for artists, distributors, and the evolving role of AI in music creation.

Apple Music Introduces AI Transparency Tags for Streaming Content

Apple Music is rolling out new AI transparency tags that allow labels to disclose when artificial intelligence is used in music, lyrics, artwork, or video. The update highlights the industry’s growing focus on transparency as AI tools become more common in production and distribution workflows.

www.rareformaudio.com/blog/apple-music-ai-transparency-tags-streaming

Bungie recently shared a closer look at the music behind the upcoming game Marathon. Composer Ryan Lott explained that the score was not built around a traditional main character. Instead, the team focused on the planet Tau Ceti and the story of the colony that once existed there.

Because of that, the music was designed to reflect the environment itself, capturing a world that feels both neon and worn down at the same time.

Read more below for insight into how the team approached the soundtrack and the overall sonic identity of Marathon.

Marathon Music: How Composer Ryan Lott Built the Sonic Identity of Bungie’s New World

Bungie’s Marathon introduces a unique sonic world shaped by composer Ryan Lott. In this developer insight, we break down how prepared piano, transformed human vocals, and expressive instruments helped build the musical identity of Tau Ceti and its lost colony. A closer look at the creative process behind the game’s score. #MarathonGame #GameMusic #VideoGameScore #IanChang #SonLux #GameAudio #Bungie

www.rareformaudio.com/blog/music-of-marathon-ian-chang-score-insight