WHAT DOES A MUSIC SUPERVISOR DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A Music Supervisor Do?)

Musical Supervisor / Photo Credit: 90 Seconds

WHAT DOES A MUSIC SUPERVISOR DO? (In the Entertainment industry. What Does A Music Supervisor Do?)

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What Does A Music Supervisor Do?

A music supervisor is a person who combines music and visual media. According to The Guild of Music Supervisors, a music supervisor is “a qualified professional who oversees all music related aspects of film, television, advertising, video games and other existing or emerging visual media platforms as required.” In the musical theatre industry, a music supervisor is often responsible for managing a team of music directors working on any number of musical productions.

Guild of Music Supervisors / Photo Credit: Music Gate Way

A music supervisor is somebody with a broad and encyclopedic music expertise and a sophisticated knowledge of music licensing and negotiation. Typically, a music supervisor proposes previously recorded songs to the director or producer of a film, advertisement, television show, trailer, promo, video game, or any other form of visual media. A music supervisor will usually act as a liaison between the creative and business ends of the process. Once a song is approved, they approach the rights holders of that song to seek permission to license (usually creating master recording licenses and synchronization licenses) and to work out the financial details of the song’s use. In many instances, the artist or songwriter of the recorded song is given the opportunity to accept or decline the synchronization of their song. This position is most active within media-based industries, including live events, television, film, advertising, theatre, and video gaming. Music supervisors may work within production companies, film studios, networks, music supervision companies, or do freelance work.

Duties

The music supervisor is primarily concerned with selecting songs to be placed in a film or television show’s soundtrack, and the licensing process necessary to clear the rights. Responsibilities are to locate, secure and oversee music related talent. They liaise between the rights holders of the recorded music involved and the director of the project they have been hired to work on. In addition, they advise, generate and work within financial parameters of the project they are hired to work on. They must deliver musical elements within a timely manner and secure legal rights of the song before it is used. The music supervisor will gather the appropriate information to list credits and, in certain cases, will manage royalty collection. The job starts with breaking down the script and discussing the director’s concept; this person is responsible for helping the director realize her or his vision by selecting the right song for the scene based on mood, tone, and style. In post-production the supervisor will slide placeholder songs (a.k.a. the temp track) into the film for initial review by the producer and studio, and inevitably the director will fall in love with this dream cast of tunes; the trouble starts when the supervisor must break the bad news that the production can’t afford a master recording of “Dream On.” To appease both the producer holding the purse strings and the director with a dream, the supervisor must artfully scour publishers’ catalogs (and his or her own deep musical knowledge) for a suitable, more affordable replacement. In addition to shopping for recorded material, this person also oversees all music-related business on a project; this includes assisting with the budget, working with the director to find the right composer and music editor, and coordinating soundtrack releases with record labels. The music supervisor is a wrangler and facilitator who puts together the many people that create a production’s musical backdrop, from songs to score to soundtrack.

Skills & Education

Big ears are great—the innate ability to distinguish the “it” factor of a song and skillfully match the tune to the visual medium. More than that, a music supervisor must understand song clearance, how a film is scored, and the ins and outs of editing. A college degree in entertainment business is helpful, though not required. Education in recording arts, film and television production, and entertainment law can serve to strengthen your fundamental knowledge, but the real must-have is a steel-trap grasp of synchronization, performance, and master rights. You should be well-versed in numerous musical genres and understand song craft; courses in music history and appreciation are invaluable. To succeed in this business you must stay current, so get out to the clubs and comb the trades every morning.

What to Expect

Music supervisors are the A&R executives of the film business; they scout for new talent and always keep an eye open for the next right project. There are widely divergent paths to arrive at this career. Experience at a publishing house or record label, or time at a performing rights organization, as a licensing administrator, or as an advertising music assistant, can put in you in front of the right people and teach you the inner workings of the industry—there is no right or wrong place to start. Once you have the gig, be prepared to play the politics and be diplomatic. You work for the producer and the studio, but you must also answer to the director and try to preserve that relationship. When or if there is conflict between the two, you must find creative compromises that will maintain the integrity and quality of the project. Music supervisors can work as independent freelancers, or as a full-time employee of a film studio, game developer, television production company, or advertising agency.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, WikiBooks, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Truity, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Wolf Crow, Get In Media, Production Beast, Sony Pictures,

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Musical Supervisor / Photo Credit: 90 Seconds

Guild of Music Supervisors / Photo Credit: Music Gate Way