MEDIA MARKET: Feature Film

MEDIA MARKET: Feature Films

Large budget feature films and studio-owned films have specific music needs to fill and place in respective film segments that include feature tracks with and without vocals and underscore music compositions. Songs used in feature films are either pre-existing songs or songs written and recorded specifically for the film. Instrumental scoring is the traditional role of a film’s composer that includes dramatic underscore as well as popular songwriting. Often times the film composer or orchestrator can occupy the role of music conductor.

The success of feature films featuring popular contemporary music and youth-market films than spawn million-seller soundtrack albums have combined to leave no doubt among Film producers of the commercial power of contemporary music. Larger budget films have larger scores that might receive a soundtrack album release. This has prompted feature film producers to hire or contract on a project basis music coordinators and music supervisors with record label and music publishing experience to make sure they get the best contemporary composers and song writers for their projects. Various contracts can be initiated with key areas of Non-Exclusive, Exclusive, Limited Useage, Impertuity, Foreign Markets and DVD.

There are three music categories of music in Synchronization Royalties in Feature Films:

1. .Underscore Music: Composing underscores (background mu- sic) is an art to understanding how grooves and harmony evoke certain emotions and moods that can be enhanced with dialogue, sound effects and compelling art from the director of photography

2. .Source Music: music used in recognized sources in TV scenes (Radio, Stereo, Jukebox, TV, Elevator, CD Player, Intercom, etc)

3. ..Feature Music: Pre-existing songs or songs written and recorded for the TV production. Includes songs with vocal tracks in a prominent scene, bands performing songs and songs that are featured over the intro or ending credits

Below is a listing example of all the potential earnings of both Songwriter and Recording Artist of a block buster feature film where the song is also on a soundtrack CD including foreign sales:

S O N G W R I T E R

Songwriting Fee (non Recoupable)

TV Synchronization License

Performance Royalties

Radio

Home Video

Pay TV

Network TV

Syndicated TV

Cable TV

Foreign TV

Sheet Music Royalty

Mechanical Royaties

Single

Foreign Single

Foreign CD

R E C O R D I N G A R T I S T

Recording Artist Fee (non recoupable)

Master License Fee

USA Record Sales Royalty

Single 9% retail

CD’s 12% of retail

Foreign Record Sales Royalty

Singles

Producers, Directors, Publicists, Music Supervisors, Music Coord- inators are key contacts for finding work in feature films. If a songwriter or composer has enough film credits, it is easier to get a film agent for getting bigger job opportunities. Listed below are the eleven (11) film music job categories:

1. Film Composer: scores music for the film that includes dramatic underscore as well as popular songwriting; often times will occupy the role of conductor

2. Film Arranger: provides all the musical arrangements of a musical composition or song for film; determines the voice, instrument, harmonic structure, rhythm, tempo and other aspects of a song or composition, based on the conductor or, film pro- ducer's specifications combined with knowledge of the special technology used in synchronizing music tracks to film or tape

3. Orchestrator: responsible for writing scores for an orchestra, band, choral group, individual instruments and vocalists. Also transposes music from one instrument or voice to another in order to accommodate a particular music instrument, musician or group; often times will occupy the role of conductor

4. Film Conductor: prepares an orchestra or ensemble for the finest performance possible in a film scoring session; preparing the musicians for the sessions via rehearsals, and all other business affairs related to leading an orchestra. During a scoring session the conductor is able to hear the comments of the producer in the studio control room and direct the musi- cians/orchestra accordingly

5. Programmer Sequencer: utilizes music sequencing software and sometimes notation software to produce MIDI keyboard/ synthesizer tracks for inclusion in the film score. Other times, a programmer will sequence a piece of music or a composition by this means, which will allow the composer and music editor an opportunity to hear the composition before it reaches the scoring stage

6. Sound Designer: Synthesis specialist who designs synthesized music and sound effects to compliment and aid the music score

7. Music Editor: is responsible for mixing and synchronizing the music tracks with the film, and mixing the music with the film soundtrack

8. .Music Supervisor: acts as an A&R scout to find and select and license popular songs for inclusion as feature, undersore or source music. Sometimes may be in charge of hiring and super- vising the film composer

9. Contractor: responsible for hiring the musicians and tending to all the necessary contract

Below is a listing of Music Media Markets that are expanding internationally with new technology driven deliveries and niche market networking:

M U S I C M E D I A M A R K E T S

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