Film and TV
COVID-19 Changed How Movie and TV Music Gets Made. L.A. Musicians Learn to Improvise (LA Times)
The plague year proved the ingenuity of musicians, as well as the composers who write for them. But it also opened new cracks — and exposed old ones — in the post-pandemic job market of musicians who make their living recording scores in L.A.
Andra Day, Regina King and John Legend set for Guild of Music Supervisors Awards (Exclusive) (Variety)
Regina King, Angela Bassett, Connie Britton, Tony Shalhoub, Marin Hinkle, Savan Kotecha, Tony Hawk, Michael McDonald and Foloke Olowofoyeku have been named as presenters for the 11th annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards.
A Rundown of the Oscars’ Original Song Race: Will Diane Warren Finally Win on Her 12th Try? (Variety)
Warren, whose movie songs range from Celine Dion’s “Because You Loved Me” to Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” penned “Io Sì (Seen)” for Netflix’s The Life Ahead. Sung in Italian by co-lyricist Laura Pausini, it could become only the fourth foreign-language song to win an Oscar.
Interview of Paul Edward-Francis, Composer for Netflix’s Blood of Zeus and Howl (Pop Horror)
Having previously composed music for projects like The Seasoning House (2012), Bunnicula TV series, and the werewolves-on-a-train film, Howl (2015), Paul Edward-Francis has also composed the mighty, majestic score to Netflix series, Blood of Zeus.
The Irregulars Soundtrack is all Over the Place — In A Good Way (Refinery 29)
Fresh off the heels of Bridgerton, Netflix is back with another period drama set in 19th century London, The Irregulars. The two shows are quite different, but one thing they do have in common besides the century and setting is that The Irregulars soundtrack is peppered with modern music.
Top TV Song Last Week: ‘Walked Through’ Hell by Anson Seabra (Tunefind)
Grey’s Anatomy takes top TV song again last week with an emotional opening montage featuring a track that sets the tone for a tearjerker episode.
Suicide Squad trailer turns Steely Dan’s ballad ‘Dirty Work’ into a web hit, five decades later (Variety)
Although Donald Fagen and Walter Becker certainly did not write “Dirty Work” with the idea of it being about reluctant mercenaries — let alone costumed antiheroes and anthropomorphized sharks — the song’s theme of reluctant conscription somehow perfectly and comically fits the “Suicide Squad” concept.
Obsessed with the music of Line of Duty? Meet Composer Carly Paradis (Radio Times)
For the Canadian composer, the best TV music is inseparable from the show: “I find a strong, memorable theme so incredible,” she tells me over Zoom. “That it can connect emotionally with people. That, when they hear the tune, they instantly know what it’s from: I love that.”
The Sound of Cinema (Composer Magazine)
Revered filmmaker David Lynch once said that “every time I hear sounds, I see pictures”. This means he often intuits, and elicits, emotional responses from the aural landscape of his movies as opposed to the visual one.
Gaming
As Music-Games Partnerships Rise, Labels Face an Opportunity to Shine (Forbes)
Music industry innovators are discovering the many growth opportunities that exist in the rapidly-growing games market. Artists are leveraging gaming spaces as a new way to release albums, launch ancillary products and host immersive events like the hugely-successful Fortnite/Travis Scott performance and Lil Nas X/Roblox concerts.
Music’s Role in Enhancing Gaming Experiences (Music Mayhem)
How much attention do developers pay to the sounds and music of their games, though? With the development of high definition and high-quality computer and phone screens, visuals on games have become hugely important but do they take advantage of new sound technology?
Kaskade and Royal Blood set for Fortnite and Roblox concerts (Music Ally)
Kaskade isn’t the only game-related musical performance this week however. This weekend, rock band Royal Blood will be the main attraction at the Bloxy Awards, an annual virtual event run by games platform Roblox.
From the sounds we choose to the way that we work, SIE continues to push the boundaries of music in games (Sony Interactive Entertainment Blog)
At Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), we aim to provide our players with a one-of-a-kind gaming experience that can’t be found anywhere else. We want to immerse them in our titles, and have them form a bond with the game that extends well beyond game and gamer.
Advertising
MassiveMusic: “Brands Need to Build Trust Post-Pandemic and Music is the Best Way to Do That”
For Music Production Director at MassiveMusic London, James Bargent, brands are on the precipice of something very important – a sink or swim moment where they will either continue to build trust and engage customers or miss the boat entirely.
This Apple iPhone 12 ‘Fumble’ Ad with Indian Tabla Music is Going Viral (Deccan Herald)
Within a day of launch, it has garnered close to a million views on YouTube alone. By the way, the Tabla music background is created by British Indian Nitin Sawhney, and the soundtrack -‘ The Conference’ is available on Apple Music and YouTube.
Business
Composers Against Buyouts campaign launches to protect media writers’ earnings & rights (Ivors Academy)
The Ivors Academy and Musicians’ Union have launched a new campaign, Composers Against Buyouts, to oppose unethical business practices that damage media composers’ rights, earnings and careers.
UK’s Department for International Trade backs virtual songwriting camp for Netflix, CBS music supervisors (MBW)
The invite-only week of sessions has seen 80 songwriters from the UK and US writing to specific briefs received from music supervisors around the world on behalf of Netflix, CBS and others.
MassiveMusic and SoundOut Launch World’s First Data-Driven Sonic Branding Tool (Transform Magazine)
The tool, powered by SoundOut technology, offers marketers the ability to know what music will drive the sound of their brand and provides scientific proof on the effectiveness of a strategic sonic brand. Massivebass has the ability of matching brand values and personality to a piece of music, through feedback from more than half a million consumers.
Streamlining Sync Licensing with Kirt Debique from Syncfloor (Music Tectonics)
Music has permeated nearly every aspect of our lives from ads to fitness to social media, made possible through the use of sync licenses. Syncfloor is making it easier than ever to navigate the world of sync licensing.
Musician’s guide to sync licensing (Hypebot)
In this piece, Chris Robley of CD Baby breaks down what artists need to know about sync licensing, explaining how it works, and what artists can do to get the greatest financial benefit out of it.
Jobs
Licensing & Business Affairs Coordinator – Future Classic (Los Angeles)
The role is to assist on synchronisation pitches, licensing administration and business affairs administration for the record label and publishing companies.
Business Development Manager – Sparks (London)
New music company Sparks has an exciting opportunity for a Business Development Manager to join their small team with big ideas and even bigger goals.
Music Supervisor – SIREN (London)
The ideal candidate will have experience and a proven track record of music supervision in Film & TV.
Check out more available positions here or get in touch to post a 100% free job listing.
Events
11th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards (Sunday, April 11th 2021)
The Guild of Music Supervisors invites you to attend the 11th Annual GMS Awards happening virtually on Sunday, April 11th, 2021 at 5pm PT.
Sound + Vision Sync Conference (GMS Canada)
In November 2020 the Guild of Music Supervisors Canada hosted the inaugural SOUND + VISION Sync Conference. You can now catch up with a number of the virtual panels on their YouTube channel.
For more events check out our comprehensive list of music industry events in 2021:
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