Custom Background Music
by FirEmerald
Custom Background Music is a Forge and NeoForge library that lets map makers and mod authors assign their own background music to chosen areas of a world.
What it does
The library provides a framework for custom background music. Two other mods in the catalog use it, and map makers can use it directly through its blocks. A BGM block sets a specific music track inside a bounding area, and a Boss Spawner block helper handles encounters. Support for custom loop points on sounds is included, so tracks can repeat cleanly.
Music changes are driven by redstone. A BGM block is only active while it receives a powered redstone signal, and turning the signal off resets it so it can be used again. A block used to spawn an enemy can play a specific track while that entity is alive, and it returns to the previous music once the entity is despawned, killed or leaves the activation area. A comparator reading 7 signal strength marks a boss spawned and 15 marks a boss killed. The mod requires FE Core. Only the player's game needs it, and servers run without it. Files exist for 1.20.1 and 1.21.4, and the code is open source under the MIT License.
Key features
Area-based music
A BGM block assigns a track to a bounding area, so music changes as players move through a map.
Redstone activation
A BGM block plays only while powered, and cutting the signal resets it for another use.
Boss encounter helper
A Boss Spawner block spawns an enemy and plays a specific track while that entity is alive.
Custom loop points
Sounds can be given custom loop points, so a track repeats at a chosen position.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Requirements
Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.
Required 1
Use cases
Map making
Adventure map creators can give each region its own soundtrack without writing code.
Boss arenas
A boss fight can start its own music, which returns to the surrounding track when the boss is defeated.
Who it’s for: Map makers, adventure map creators and mod authors who want to add custom background music to a world. Players usually meet it through the maps and mods built on it.
How it compares
Background Music Mod is a NeoForge-only mod for 1.21.1, client-side only and open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 or later. LaterDiscs is a Forge and NeoForge mod for 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 that needs both client and server, and is open source under the MIT License. Adaptive Music Control supports Fabric, Forge and NeoForge for 1.20.1 – 26.2 and is client-side only under the BSD 2-Clause License, but it is not open source.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Background Music | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.4 | Client-side only | 2025-02-18 |
| Background Music Mod | NeoForge | 1.21.1 | Client-side only | 2026-05-14 |
| LaterDiscs | Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 1.21.1 | Client and server | 2026-07-08 |
| Adaptive Music Control | Fabric, Forge and NeoForge | 1.20.1 – 26.2 | Client-side only | 2026-06-21 |
Questions
Does Custom Background Music need FE Core?
Which loaders does Custom Background Music support?
Does a server need Custom Background Music installed?
In the catalog
Custom Background Music is one of 3,514 Library mods on ModsFinder, and one of 1,576 Library mods for Forge. 17,979 mods support Minecraft 1.21.4.
More from FirEmerald
Similar mods
What the author says
Provides a framework for custom background music to be used by both mods and map makers. Also adds support for custom loop points in sounds. The BGM block can be used to set the BGM for a specific bounding area The Boss Spawner block is a helper block that can be used to spawn an enemy and play a specific BGM while…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/custom-background-music
- Owner
- FirEmerald
- Published
- 2025-02-14
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-02-18
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15