Film and TV
Here’s Every Song From the Big Little Lies Season Two Soundtrack (Esquire)
While Big Little Lies is defined by its enormous houses, its impossible wealth, and the performances of its truly incredible cast, it’s the music that gives the show its real vibe, its rhythm.
Music Supervisor Madonna Wade-Reed on the Music of All American (Tunefind)
Music supervisor, Madonna Wade-Reed (Reign, The Red Line, American Crime), gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at her favorite All American music moments, a tearful cast member performance and a bit of her personal music taste.
Top TV Song Last Week: ‘My Love Will Never Die’ by AG & Claire Wyndham (Tunefind)
For the second week running, a song featured in Lucifer season 4 takes the top spot on Tunefind’s weekly chart of the most popular TV music.
How Randall Park’s Rap Song About Punching Keanu Reeves Ended Up in Always Be My Maybe (Pitchfork)
While Marcus’ band in Always Be My Maybe may be fake, their songs – which Randall Park co-wrote with revered hip-hop producer Dan the Automator – are very real and very fun.
Becky Bentham Is The Secret Sauce Behind Bohemian Rhapsody, Mamma Mia & Les Mis (Bustle)
Her forte is translating music’s biggest icons, be it Queen frontman Freddie Mercury or the music of Swedish pop legends ABBA, from the stage to the big screen.
How Does a Shaft Soundtrack Get Made Without Isaac Hayes? (Billboard)
The legendary soul singer’s son Isaac Hayes III gives a behind-the-scenes look.
Chernobyl’s haunting score was made with nuclear power plant field recordings (Brooklyn Vegan)
HBO’s harrowing miniseries Chernobyl just wrapped up its five-episode run on HBO this week, and adding to its palpable sense of dread is Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir‘s haunting, ambient score that has its own fascinating backstory.
No Surprise Here: The Handmaid’s Tale’s New Season Is Full of Incredible Music (Pop Sugar)
The Handmaid’s Tale’s bleak third season is here, which means not only are we continuing on with the next phase of June’s dangerous journey through — and hopefully (eventually) out of — the Republic of Gilead, but we’re also being treated to some choice tunes as she does so.
Emmys: How a Composer Convinced TV Academy to Finally Recognize Documentary Scores (Hollywood Reporter)
Nonfiction doc music will be honored for the first time this year, thanks to the work of longtime composer Miriam Cutler (‘Love, Gilda‘), who reveals her pitch to the organization and how scoring a doc differs from scoring fiction.
15 Essential Soundtracks From LGBTQ Movies (Billboard)
Truly great LGBTQ films can not only touch hearts and open minds — in some cases, they can even move the wheels of progress forward in the world around us. They also happen to have some truly incredible soundtracks.
How Nostalgic Music Gained New Meaning in Homecoming and The Umbrella Academy (IndieWire)
Music supervisor Maggie Phillips had her hands full on Homecoming and The Umbrella Academy, but for very different reasons.
Songs For Screens: UTA’s Maxim Karlik Brings A-List Music Moments to Aladdin, Aquaman (Variety)
As co-head of UTA’s Music Crossover division, Maxim Karlik sits at a unique intersection of music, TV and film.
Massive Soundtrack to Ken Burns’ Country Music Documentary Announced (Pitchfork)
Ken Burns’ next documentary series is Country Music, an eight-part, 16-hour exploration into the history of 20th century country music in America.
The When They See Us Composer Explains Why He Made It Sound Like a Horror Movie (Esquire)
Score composer Kris Bowers had musicians play atonal and jarring sounds on their instruments to create an uncomfortable, ominous mood.
How Vida Gave Its Second Season a One-of-a-Kind Sound (Vulture)
Vida’s second season is even more visceral and intimate than the first, and much of that is due to its provocative and eclectic soundtrack, which includes six original songs written for the show by several Los Angeles–based Latinx artists, including “Me Llamo Yo.”
Russian Doll Music Supervisor Brienne Rose Was That Friend Making You Mixtapes (Deadline)
“My favorite projects are really when you get to dive into the themes, and you get to tell the stories partially through the music,” Rose says on the latest episode of Deadline’s Production Value video series.
How The Bold Type’s women-powered soundtrack elevates the show (MTV)
What do Lizzo, Maggie Rogers, and Sigrid have in common? Aside from releasing breakout albums in 2019, each artist has had her music featured on the third season of Freeform’s hit dramedy The Bold Type.
Gaming
‘There is a natural overlap’: Electronic music biz urged to build on video games success (Music Week)
The author of the IMS Business Report has told Music Week the popularity of the video games business represents a “huge” opportunity for electronic music.
The official Red Dead Redemption 2 soundtrack arrives July 12th (engadget)
It’s produced by Daniel Lanois and includes music by himself as well as D’Angelo, Rocco DeLuca, Rhihannon Giddens, Josh Homme and Willie Nelson.
BTS World Free Mobile Game Release Date Set, Will Feature Original K-Pop Soundtrack (Variety)
BTS World will feature an all-new, original soundtrack from BTS, including a sub-unit song by group members Jin, Jimin, and Jung Kook.
Advertising
“Brands and Artists are Finding New Methods to Partner in Authentic Ways” – A Conversation with Clio Music Director Michael Kauffman (Synchblog)
Michael Kauffman explains how the relationship between brands and artists continues to evolve and Clio Music’s role in highlighting the most innovative and powerful campaigns.
Edward White on Making It as a Film/TV Composer, Industry Trends, and Scoring Robert De Niro (Synchblog)
We chat to highly regarded film/TV composer Edward White about his work in the industry, his top tips for aspiring composers, and scoring Warburtons’ new campaign starring Robert De Niro.
Songs for Screens: Inside Darren Criss’ Nacho Fries Anthem for Taco Bell (Variety)
For his latest role, Criss makes his commercial debut in Taco Bell’s “Chasing Gold,” a mock trailer for a faux-blockbuster touting the return of Taco Bell’s Nacho Fries.
Sync Story: Inside Misty’s Big Adventure’s Ocado placement (Music Week)
It’s probably a safe bet that Misty’s Big Adventure and Noddy Holder weren’t thinking about online supermarket shopping when they recorded Fashion Parade in 2006. Well, 13 years later, the song soundtracks Ocado’s new Made For Modern Living campaign. The colourful animated spot bears a message promoting convenience.
Inside 5 Ads Where Music Was Critical to the Storytelling (Muse by CLIO)
If Daniel Kuypers’ ears are burning, there are two possible explanations, and they’re inextricably intertwined.
Business
“Playing it Safe is Boring, You Need Attitude”: A Conversation with Mary Nuñez, VP Synch Latin, Warner Chappell Music (Synchblog)
We talk opportunities for Latin music in sync, emerging trends, licensing challenges and more with Warner Chappell’s VP Sync Latin, Music Mary Nuñez.
‘Passionate about music and super-serving her clients’: Position Music promotes Emily Weber to head of sync (Music Week)
Formerly overseeing the company’s movie trailer, TV promo and international advertising business, Weber will now be responsible for building and overseeing the nine-strong sync team as they work across advertising, film, television, trailers, and video games globally.
BMG Production Music unveils rebrand (Music Week)
The production music company, which supplies music for film, broadcast, games and advertising, has revealed a new logo while it plans to further its “hidden hit makers” concept that it launched at this year’s South By South West conference.
Downtown Music Publishing appoints Stef Patch as sync manager (The Industry Observer)
Less than 18 months after opening for business in Sydney, Stef Patch joins the independent music publisher as sync manager, Australia & New Zealand.
Jen Bowder Joins Ninja Tune’s Global Sync Team in Los Angeles (LBB Online)
Ninja Tune bolsters its sync team with new hire, industry veteran Jen Bowder. Jen brings over 10 years experience having worked at Visions From The Roof, Sony/ATV and more recently at BMG Production Music, where she was instrumental in its launch and recently worked on Ninja’s Production Music catalogue.
Pitch & Sync Adds Rebecca Leon as Head of Music (LBB Online)
It’s been a busy year for music and sound agency Pitch & Sync. Welcoming in Denise Valk back in January to head up their Amsterdam operations, the Pitch & Sync team has continued to expand with Rebecca León joining as head of music in their London office.
Tips and Tricks
Taking Your Production Music Business to the Next Level – Advice from Randy Wachtler (Synchblog)
Consultant Randy Wachtler takes us through some key considerations for music production companies looking to succeed and take their business to the next level.
‘How To Actually Land A Sync Deal For Once’ (GMS UK & Europe)
Key takeaways from ‘A Panel About How To Actually Land A Sync Deal For Once’ at The Great Escape Conference featuring Abi Leland, Kate Young, Iain Cooke and Duncan Smith.
Jobs
Freelance Digital Playlist Curator – BMG Production Music (London)
BMG is looking for a super-star Digital Playlist Curator to join their Production Music office in Shoreditch and work with them full time until the end of 2019.
Sales/Licensing Rep – DL Music (LA)
This Sales/Licensing Rep position will be responsible for growing licensing opportunities with existing clients, cultivating new clients, and securing placements for our music catalogs with new and emerging content opportunities.
Business Development Manager – Big Sync Music (Singapore)
Big Sync Music are seeking a Business Development Manager for the Asia region, to help create, cultivate, develop and close high value new business opportunities for the company, as well as initiating and overseeing marketing and communication strategies.
A&R and Sync Coordinator – Anara Publishing (Leicester)
The successful applicant will be an integral part of the team. They will be responsible for pitching Anara’s catalogue to sync opportunities, securing licensing deals, acquiring new artists and composers and more.
For more positions check out our music industry jobs board.
Subscribe
Get the latest Synchblog posts + key industry news in your inbox every Tuesday, delivered by Synchtank. Subscribe now.
