Music That Makes Sense

In my decades of creating music for a vast array of projects, I’ve found producers that make the sad mistake of not budgeting enough for music and sound. They tend to only have enough left to license music from whoever is the cheapest option because they have spent all their money on the shoot and the edit. While those stages are important, music and sound are equally important!

There are TONS of companies (mostly the royalty free ones) that offer something for nearly nothing. I’m sure you’re familiar with them. These sites are full of tracks that lack serious production value, passion, and emotion. The old adage that “you get what you pay for” really is true. Make enough room in your budget for great music and you’ll be glad you did. I’ve seen projects that were suffering due to less than great direction or acting and were completely saved by the music.

Conversely, I’ve seen really well produced films, commercials, and shows that have been utterly destroyed by mediocre or even inappropriate music. Music tells the audience what to feel and how to feel it. Music is a story teller. Music transports the audience to places that picture cannot. It’s important not to underestimate the power of music and see it as another actor in the play and not just something that sits under the VO or dialogue. A good idea is to involve the composer or music licensing company early on in the production process. They can be a great resource to help make your project all that you envision and hope for.

Advice