How to Tailor Your Music for Different Media: TV, Film, and Ads
Sync licensing offers musicians exciting opportunities to place their music in TV shows, films, and advertisements. However, each medium comes with distinct requirements, audiences, and creative goals. To succeed, artists must tailor their music to fit the specific needs of these industries. In this guide, we’ll dive into the nuances of creating music that resonates across these platforms.
Understanding the Basics of Sync Music
Before exploring how to adapt your music, it’s crucial to understand what music supervisors and creators seek when pairing music with visuals:
Emotional Resonance: The music must amplify the emotional impact of the scene.
Versatility: Tracks with multiple sections, dynamic shifts, or instrumental options offer flexibility.
Quality: High production values and clear audio are non-negotiable.
Licensability: Ensure your music is cleared of copyright issues, including all samples and rights ownership.
1. Tailoring Music for TV Shows
What TV Shows Look for in Music
Continuity: Music often plays under dialogue or transitions, requiring consistency.
Atmosphere: Tracks help define the mood and tone of the series.
Variety: Episodic content demands a mix of genres to suit different scenes.
Key Tips
Create Instrumental Versions: Music supervisors often need tracks without vocals to avoid clashing with dialogue.
Keep It Layered: TV music needs to adapt to scenes with varying intensities. Build layers that can be stripped or added.
Example: A suspenseful drama like Stranger Things uses tracks with eerie, escalating tension.
Understand Genres: Different genres cater to different TV formats:
Comedy: Upbeat, quirky, or playful music.
Drama: Cinematic, emotionally driven, often orchestral or ambient sounds.
Reality TV: Versatile, high-energy tracks with an emphasis on rhythm.
2. Tailoring Music for Films
What Films Look for in Music
Immersion: Music should integrate seamlessly into the narrative.
Themes: Film scores often have recurring motifs to enhance storytelling.
Duration: Tracks may be longer to fit extended scenes.
Key Tips
Build Cinematic Dynamics: Focus on music that evolves, growing or receding to match scene intensity.
Think About Narrative: Your music should reflect the story’s emotional arc.
Tip: Match a song's progression to the characters' development or pivotal moments.
Work in Collaboration: Directors often seek tailored music. Be open to creating custom edits or adjusting your work to fit scenes.
Use Organic and Electronic Blends: Films often require lush soundscapes that combine orchestral elements with modern production.
3. Tailoring Music for Advertisements
What Ads Look for in Music
Catchiness: The music must grab attention within seconds.
Brand Alignment: The track needs to match the brand’s identity and target audience.
Short and Memorable: Most ads are 15-30 seconds long, requiring concise, impactful music.
Key Tips
Focus on Hooks: Highlight a strong melody or rhythm that’s memorable and repeatable.
Know the Brand’s Audience: Research the demographic and align your music with their tastes.
A luxury watch ad may prefer orchestral or minimalist piano, while a sneaker ad might favor hip-hop beats.
Think Positive and Upbeat: Ads often aim to create a feel-good vibe to leave viewers with a positive impression.
Keep It Versatile: Offer multiple edits, including 15, 30, and 60-second versions, to fit different ad lengths.
Research the Market: Understand trends in advertising music by watching recent campaigns in your target market.
Universal Tips for All Media
Metadata Matters
Properly tag your tracks with relevant keywords, moods, genres, and tempo.
Include terms that align with visual themes, such as “uplifting,” “romantic,” or “suspenseful.”
Be Ready to Customize
Music supervisors may request custom edits, alternate endings, or specific transitions. Being flexible increases your chances of landing placements.
Understand Exclusivity
Some media may request exclusive rights to your music. Decide whether you're comfortable with exclusivity or prefer non-exclusive deals that allow you to pitch the same track elsewhere.
Stay Current
Trends in sync music evolve. Study recent placements in each medium to understand what’s in demand.
Final Thoughts
Tailoring your music for TV, film, and advertisements is both an art and a strategy. Understanding the unique requirements of each medium can significantly boost your chances of landing sync placements. By focusing on emotional resonance, production quality, and market trends, you can position your music to succeed across multiple platforms.
Ready to dive into sync licensing? Partner with an experienced publishing administrator like Elizabeth Music Group to ensure your music reaches the right opportunities worldwide.
