Music Supervisor

Working Schedule

• Music Supervisors may work full- or part-time jobs, depending on their position. Some work in a freelance contract capacity while others are employed by media companies where they get to work on multiple projects. Most work in or around entertainment hub cities like Los Angeles and New York City. 

Typical Duties

• Attend pre-production meetings with directors, writers, and producers to hear about the ideas for the production (i.e, the show, ad, game, or film) and discuss suitable music styles and attributes that match the production’s aesthetic 
• Discuss and agree upon budgets for licensing existing music or hiring artists to write and perform new music
• Watch rough versions of the production to identify where music should be inserted
• Create lists of suggested songs or musical pieces that fit particular scenes/sequences and can synchronize without much editing
• Review list suggestions with directors and writers; or, if given the authority, make the song selections 
• Collaborate with composers as needed for adding original scores versus pre-existing music
• Reach out to music license holders (such as record studios) to discuss buying the rights to use a song. Negotiate fees and terms of use
• Find suitable artists to write and perform original songs and scores, or to do covers of existing songs (once rights are obtained)
• In some cases, work with performers who will star in the production itself 
• Meet with label representatives or artists as needed to discuss the mutual benefits of their involvement with a production, including exposure and royalties 
• Many pre-existing songs become virtually synonymous with the films or shows they are featured in
• Use cue sheets to track all songs used in the final production
• Ensure artists are credited appropriately in all film and promotional credits, and make sure royalties are sent out 
• Work closely with the music team, production and post team, and other involved crew (such as choreography, if a scene must be closely synched to a piece of music)
• Keep track of the production and post-production schedules so that all work is completed on time, with applicable rights firmly secured
• Work with promotional teams to assess music to be used for commercials, social media ads, etc. 

Additional Responsibilities

• Keep up to date on current music, artists, and trends
• Study a broad range of music genres
• Build strong relationships with artists, record labels, and other musical intellectual property holders 
• Train and mentor music team crew members 

Soft Skills

• Attention to detail
• Creative 
• Goal-oriented
• Initiative
• Leadership skills
• Observant
• Organized
• Patient 
• Persuasive
• Problem-solving
• Strong communication skills 
• Strong research skills
• Teamwork
• Time management 

Technical Skills

• Cultural awareness
• Familiarity with music licensing, rights, and royalties
• Good “ear” for music
• Knowledge of cue sheets
• Solid grasp of video production 
• Understanding of copyright infringement laws
• Very broad knowledge of many music genres, artists, and history 

• Advertising companies
• Film, television, and video game studios
• Production companies
• Self-employed
• Small music-supervision companies

Music Supervisors have plenty of responsibility riding on their shoulders because songs and scores can make or break a production. The right music can dramatically enhance scenes and make them more memorable, while mismatched music can distract audiences or destroy an otherwise great scene. 

There is a ton of artistic license involved and many choices may not resonate with every director, writer, or viewer. Sometimes bold musical choices might seem incongruous with a film’s subject matter, yet end up working out perfectly—such as with Pulp Fiction’s eclectic 16-song soundtrack, the 70s jams from Guardians of the Galaxy’s “Awesome Mix Vol. 1,” or George Lucas’ wise decision to use John Williams’ original, orchestral score for Star Wars! 

Long story short, it’s easy to play it “safe,” but to really stand out and make a name for yourself, you’ll have to take chances from time to time! 

Movies have always relied on music to augment them, but now TV series and video games have big budgets, too, and can afford to license existing songs from top artists! 

Streaming services have had a huge impact in this arena, with companies like Disney, Netflix, Apple, and Amazon investing big bucks to put out content that’ll draw subscribers. Part of that strategy involves producing incredible original scores as well as licensing hits from popular artists (such as Stranger Things and its litany of catchy 80s tunes). 

Meanwhile, games like Grand Theft Auto have gone truly over the top when it comes to music partnerships, with its in-game radio stations playing hundreds of licensed songs across several genres.  

Music Supervisors are like walking encyclopedias of music, and such breadth and depth of knowledge typically come from growing up as an avid music lover. Many are musicians themselves and may have started playing an instrument in their youth. 

In addition to knowing a great deal about music, they’re often long-time movie buffs who can tell when a bit of song or score can beef up a scene. And because they work with artists and record labels, Music Supervisors need incredible people skills…which they likely picked up from engaging in school or extracurricular activities!