Putting music to film/tv etc...

rosyposy

Right, my name should be 'clueless' on this forum!and my apologies if this isnt the right place for this post.

Im posting here because I have have always had an interest im putting music to film,tv etc. Not so much writing instrumental and orchestral stuff, but putting already written music to film. I love the when a piece of music is perfectly matched to a piece of film, it brings it to another level I think.

My problem is, I have no idea how this business works, who are the people that sit in a room and pick music and time it to the film etc. Are there companies that solely provide this service, or is it a bit more of a freelance type thing? Do you have to be a good musician to have a job like this?

My work is completley unrelated, my degree is in Environmental Science, but this is something I'd love to mess around with, as a hobby maybe....so can anyone help me with my cluelessness!!:D

Cheers

PaulBrewer

Good question. This could well be the right place to get your answer. I can think of two guys here who have experience in this area.

As a rule I think most of the time the picture comes first , tempos, cue points etc. will be matched to that.

The only exception I can think of is when a bands track is being used, then editing pictures will have to reference to the track.

dav nagle

Music composers and music publishers are the answer. They make music and licence their own compositions for tv and film. There are plenty out there, if you are lucky enough to find the clever basterds!

rosyposy

Thanks for replies, so a publisher is just a composer who liscences his music?would that be right?

For example, I saw the credits for the All Ireland talent tv show the other night and it just said 'Music: Decor Music'...what type of company would they call themselves I wonder, are they music publishers?

JJV

I think the title of the job you refer to is "music supervisor." See description here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_supervisor

As far as I know, most of these guys are freelancers & much like composing for film, it's not what you know but who you know. Shmoozing is the name of the game both with directors & people who wish to place their products in films - obviously there is big money to be made with this.

At the last Music Live show, Neil Jordan & Gavin Friday chaired a discussion which centred around just this. Neil Jordan said these days he does not like having a score composed for his films, he is far more interested in selecting already recorded pieces & placing them in his film. He basically does the music supervisor's job himself with a little help from his friends.

I managed to give him a CD of my music after the event. Surprisingly the phone hasn't rung yet!

www.jjvernon.com

dav nagle

rosyposy wrote: »

Thanks for replies, so a publisher is just a composer who liscences his music?would that be right?

A composer who has a proven track record for the likes of RTE is someone who would be asked to compose a soundtrack for an up and coming new television show or film. The composer would have the ability to score music and record and produce music to an extremly high standard. The abilty to score music is fundamental because otherwise the composer cannot communicate effectively with an orchestra for example. Regardless, composers at this high level suffer droughts of work from time to time so they sometimes have to get work from over seas, state side. Composers through the sucess of their own compositions can have setup their own publishing company where by they will buy your music off you and sell it on at a profit to the likes of already famous artists, television commericals and even movies. As JJ mentioned the composers will know the bigwigs in the film and tv industry and have the effectivness and respect to make a deal happen. Composers are also connected to record companies because the record companies will usually value the composers opinion and perhaps at one stage the composer may have worked in that field before they became composers.

For example, I saw the credits for the All Ireland talent tv show the other night and it just said 'Music: Decor Music'...what type of company would they call themselves I wonder, are they music publishers?

Decor sounds to me like a music publisher umbrella alright. They reserve all rights to use the music they buy or licence etc...

trackmixstudio

Most music you hear on TV is "library music". There are many companies that archive music based on genre, feel, mood etc. and the producer of the show/film can contact them and explain what (s)he has in mind and they will send out several pieces that match his request. He will then pick one or two and pay a licensing fee for using the music. If you can get your music to one of these library companies you stand a reasonable chance of getting it used for TV/film.

Sometimes, of course, music is commissioned specifically for a project or a previously released hit song is used. There is also a lot of "sound alike" stuff used where the producer will request a song in the style of .... because they don't want to pay royalties or cannot use the original due to licensing being refused.

Google "library music" and you will get lots of hits.

dav nagle

trackmixstudio wrote: »

Most music you hear on TV is "library music". There are many companies that archive music based on genre, feel, mood etc. and the producer of the show/film can contact them and explain what (s)he has in mind and they will send out several pieces that match his request. He will then pick one or two and pay a licensing fee for using the music. If you can get your music to one of these library companies you stand a reasonable chance of getting it used for TV/film.

Sometimes, of course, music is commissioned specifically for a project or a previously released hit song is used. There is also a lot of "sound alike" stuff used where the producer will request a song in the style of .... because they don't want to pay royalties or cannot use the original due to licensing being refused.

Google "library music" and you will get lots of hits.

Yes commericals do it all the time, for example..

An add for huggies nappies but the music is 3 out of 4 chords of Coldplays latest hit! The 4th chord being left out so the publisher gets away with his so called 'original material' it's very crafty or I am just paranoid????

old gregg

dav nagle wrote: »

Yes commericals do it all the time, for example..

An add for huggies nappies but the music is 3 out of 4 chords of Coldplays latest hit! The 4th chord being left out so the publisher gets away with his so called 'original material' it's very crafty or I am just paranoid????

perhaps explains how come every time I hear Coldplay on the radio I suddenly feel like squeezing one out

Latchy

I am getting lots of practice in myself from windows movie maker ,windows media player and google images

Neurojazz

I have access to the root publisher for the mcps/prs in the uk... He has no problem with me sending him tracks for possible syncing...

I did look at other publishers (that were basically sub-publishers), and some of the contracts on offer were prety nasty... they'd sign the whole artists catalogue with no commitments on an exclusive basis - scary.

I've got a very large project on boil at the moment - all to do with getting all this unknown shíte in the music business out in the open an simplified way. I'll be posting in a month or so about it - might be lots of ways people here can hook up artists/composers/producers/bands from that come through your studios to a mess free way to get directly connected to the important revenue streams accounted directly to the people involved.

I already run a management scheme, i've just expanded greatly on this since the New Year so that it's very flexable and open for all involved.

PaulBrewer

JJV wrote: »

I think the title of the job you refer to is "music supervisor." See description here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_supervisor

As far as I know, most of these guys are freelancers & much like composing for film, it's not what you know but who you know. Shmoozing is the name of the game both with directors & people who wish to place their products in films - obviously there is big money to be made with this.

At the last Music Live show, Neil Jordan & Gavin Friday chaired a discussion which centred around just this. Neil Jordan said these days he does not like having a score composed for his films, he is far more interested in selecting already recorded pieces & placing them in his film. He basically does the music supervisor's job himself with a little help from his friends.

I managed to give him a CD of my music after the event. Surprisingly the phone hasn't rung yet!

www.jjvernon.com

A 'Music Supervisor' , huh? Sounds like the kind of job the director would give his girlfriend if you ask me :rolleyes:

dav nagle

PaulBrewer wrote: »

A 'Music Supervisor' , huh? Sounds like the kind of job the director would give his girlfriend if you ask me :rolleyes:

Music supervisor is the title you give to your 10 year old son who wants to feel important and be just like his dad! :rolleyes:

Thats my son Dav Jr he is going to be the music supervisor on this project (wink wink!) ;)

bedbugs

Music Supervisors earn SO much money, you wouldn't believe it. If I could get in there, I definitely would.

PaulBrewer

bedbugs wrote: »

Music Supervisors earn SO much money, you wouldn't believe it. If I could get in there, I definitely would.

Definitely the Director's birds gig ...:D

MojoRising

anyone know how to start going about writing jingles for ads?
please:cool:

old gregg

close your eyes, bite into a Cadbury's Flake and see where the music takes you .... or does that only work for girls? :P

MojoRising

old gregg wrote: »

close your eyes, bite into a Cadbury's Flake and see where the music takes you .... or does that only work for girls? :P

only works for girls

MojoRising

would you have to contact an ad agency to go about submitting your tunes for ads?

JJV

Check www.iftn.ie

You will find film companies,ad agencies etc listed there with their contact details.

www.jjvernon.com

MojoRising

thanks a mill appreciate the help

PMI

Hi guys the recession is changing things there has been a boost in library stuff so if you have it logged with them then your quids in

Music for tv, Film and Radio is more about being able to communicate what the director/producer is thinking in the words he is saying which can be "I want a jungle trance kinda country folk tune in this part"..... and you have to then work that out

The whole thing is run on deadlines and very short ones, you often can get 48 hours to have stuff finished and ready, a friend of mine had 24 hours for a top gear show late last year ha, which means no sleep or poss grab an hour with alarm set as you cant make excuses or you should just shut up shop !

Know the terms too ie: what mock up, sting etc.. means and also what company your dealing with and budgets etc...

Agencies wont take chances on ya unless you have a track record so sending tracks is just a waste of time, you need a show reel on cd as most of these boys are travelling everyday so email or you tube stuff is a waste too and try and capture your best style, dont try and do orchestral if you have no idea what side the violins sit on the stage or how many french horns are needed, do what your confident in and make sure its different

There is not as much dosh in it as there used to be most of the money can be earned from licencing and having different licence options from ireland, uk europe the world etc...

anyway enough for now my fingers are hurting.....