DOOM 1993 soundtrack added to Library of Congress

The Library of Congress added the original 1993 “Doom” soundtrack to the National Recording Registry on May 14, placing the score from id Software’s landmark shooter alongside 24 other recordings selected this year. The Library said the 2026 class was chosen for cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage. The addition makes “Doom” the third video game music selection recognized by the registry, according to the Library’s blog. IGN and other gaming outlets highlighted the move on May 20 after the federal archive published its annual list. ### When did the Library of Congress actually make the announcement? The Library of Congress announced the 2026 National Recording Registry class on May 14, 2026, not May 20. In its release, the agency said Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen named 25 recordings for preservation and that the new additions brought the registry total to 700 titles. (loc.gov) The Library’s registry page for 2026 says those 25 recordings were added on May 14 and lists “Doom” among the selections in chronological order. IGN’s story appeared later, reflecting the Library’s earlier announcement rather than a same-day induction. ### What is the National Recording Registry, exactly? The National Recording Registry is a Library of Congress program that selects 25 recordings each year to highlight the range and diversity of American recorded sound heritage. (loc.gov) The Library says the registry is intended to increase preservation awareness and that the listed works represent only a small portion of its broader sound holdings. (loc.gov) The Library’s May 14 release described the 2026 inductees as “audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time.” In the same announcement, the agency said the recordings were chosen for their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance. ### Where does “Doom” fit in this year’s class? (loc.gov) The 2026 class spans recordings released between 1944 and 2014, according to the Library’s blog post on the selections. The same post said “for the third time video game music was selected, and this year it goes to the Doom soundtrack.” The Library’s public-facing coverage grouped “Doom” with a class that also included recordings by Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Weezer, Vince Gill and Reba McEntire. (newsroom.loc.gov) A separate Library blog post described the new class as part of the institution’s catalog preserving the nation’s sound heritage. ### Why was the “Doom” soundtrack singled out? The Library’s formal release does not provide a long standalone essay for “Doom” in the search results surfaced here, but its selection places the soundtrack within the registry’s standard criteria of cultural, historical or aesthetic importance. (blogs.loc.gov) IGN’s report said the recognition was for the soundtrack’s “cultural importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage,” echoing the Library’s framing of the registry program. (blogs.loc.gov) Robbin Ahrold, chair of the National Recording Preservation Board, said in remarks carried by IGN that the 2026 class “beautifully captures the scope of the American experience” as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary. That comment referred to the full class, not only “Doom,” but it set the Library’s public rationale for this year’s selections. (newsroom.loc.gov) ### What should readers look at next if they want the official record? The Library of Congress has published both a 2026 induction-year registry page and a newsroom release listing all 25 selections from May 14. Readers looking for the official entry can find “Doom” on the 2026 registry page, while the broader announcement provides the full class and the updated total of 700 recordings. (loc.gov) (sea.ign.com)