Doom soundtrack added to Library of Congress

The Library of Congress has added the original “Doom” soundtrack to the National Recording Registry, placing music from id Software’s 1993 shooter alongside works by Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Weezer. The Library announced the 2026 class on May 14, saying 25 recordings were selected this year for preservation based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance. (newsroom.loc.gov) The addition puts “Doom” inside one of the United States’ highest-profile preservation lists for recorded sound. The 2026 class brought the registry’s total to 700 recordings. (blogs.loc.gov) ### When did this actually happen? May 14, 2026, is the date the Library of Congress announced the 2026 National Recording Registry class, not May 19. (loc.gov) The Library’s official release said Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen named 25 new recordings that day. The Registry’s 2026 induction page repeats that date and lists “Doom” among the new additions. GameSpot reported the honor on May 18 and tied it to the game’s more than 30-year legacy after its 1993 debut. Britannica says “Doom” was released in December 1993 and became one of the defining early first-person shooters. (newsroom.loc.gov) ### What exactly was added — the game or its music? The Library of Congress selected the “Doom soundtrack,” not the game itself, for the National Recording Registry. The Library’s “Now See Hear!” blog said that “for the third time video game music was selected, and this year it goes to the Doom soundtrack.” IGN and other gaming outlets described the inductee as the soundtrack to the original 1993 “Doom.” That distinction matters because the National Recording Registry preserves sound recordings, while the game itself has its own separate preservation history. (newsroom.loc.gov) ### Why is this unusual for a video game? The Library of Congress said “Doom” is only the third case of video game music being chosen for the registry. (gamespot.com) That makes it a rare entry in a program that has traditionally focused on songs, albums, broadcasts and spoken-word recordings. The Library’s release said the 25 selections are judged as “audio treasures” worthy of preservation for all time. (blogs.loc.gov) In that context, “Doom” sits in the same 2026 class as Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Taylor Swift’s “1989” and Weezer’s self-titled debut album. (ign.com) ### Who else was in the 2026 class? The 2026 National Recording Registry class included recordings by Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, The Go-Go’s, Vince Gill, Paul Anka, José Feliciano, Tracy Chapman and Weezer, according to the Library of Congress announcement. The Library also said Weezer led this year’s public nominations. (blogs.loc.gov) Smithsonian Magazine and other outlets described the annual list as a mix of pop, historical recordings and other “audio treasures.” That framing matches the Registry’s broader practice of combining mainstream hits with recordings that document U.S. cultural history. (newsroom.loc.gov) ### Has the Library recognized “Doom” before? The Library of Congress had already recognized “Doom” in another form before this year’s soundtrack induction. Britannica and other reference sources note that the game was included in the Library’s 2007 “game canon” selections. That means the 2026 action extends the Library’s preservation interest from the game’s design legacy to its audio identity. (newsroom.loc.gov) Gaming outlets including GameSpot and IGN framed the new Registry selection as another major cultural accolade for the franchise. ### Where can readers check the official record? The Library of Congress has posted the full 2026 National Recording Registry list on its Registry-by-year page and in its May 14 newsroom release. (smithsonianmag.com) Both pages name “Doom” among the 25 inductees and identify the 2026 class as the newest additions to the archive. (britannica.com) The Registry listing and the Library’s blog also show the other named participants in this year’s class, including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Weezer. Those pages are the official source for the induction date, the full class and the Registry’s current total of 700 recordings. (blogs.loc.gov) (loc.gov) (gamespot.com)