CareersInMusic.com is hiring: Music Supervisor in Nashville-Davidson

1. Are you a Musician/Performer or are you just looking for a career in the Music Business? * This question is required.

• I am a musician or performer
• I just want to work in the music business

2. What are you most interested in? Select as many as you like. * This question is required.

Music Supervisors find and license music to set the mood and convey emotion in films, commercials, video games, TV shows, mixed media, and for events.

An important aspect of being a Music Supervisor is handling music clearances and all the legal aspects of securing song rights, which includes overseeing completion of mountains of paperwork. The job requires a full understanding of how music publishing, sync rights, and music licensing work. Many aspects can be complicated, and the role requires excellent organizational, communication, and negotiation skills.

Music Supervisors need musical expertise and knowledge, and they also have a sophisticated understanding of music licensing and synchronization rights. There are many permissions to be secured, and there may be more than one owner of a copyright. For example, a record label may own the master rights to the recording while the Composer owns and controls the copyright for the song. To identify and use the perfect song or composition, it must be a perfect fit for a scene, create the perfect mood, and be available for licensing at a cost within the production’s budget.

Music Supervisors oversee the administration of the song placement and may be responsible for tracking and issuing payments to the copyright owners, whether artists, record labels, or Music Publishers. They may also be responsible for placing end credits in films and trailers or even collecting royalty payments. In musical theatre, a Music Supervisor might manage a team of Music Directors working on several musical productions at the same time.

Supervisors often propose previously recorded songs to the Director or Producer of a movie, TV show, advertisement, video game, or other visual media. They act as a liaison between the creative and business sides of the production. This means getting the music approved, asking the rights holders for permission to use the song, creating master recording and sync licenses, and managing financial details so that it meets the production’s budget requirements.

Typically, artists are given the chance to accept or reject the use of their songs and will also have a say in how the song is used. Music Supervisors also must interact with performing rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP or BMI in their daily work.

Music Supervisors occupy a powerful position in the music and entertainment business, because getting the right music cues for a show or movie can elevate it to greatness. Having a song placed in a highly successful movie, show, or video game can push a Songwriter or performer into the public eye and help them achieve fame.

Experience & Skills

Most people think that the main requirement for success as a Music Supervisor is having a passion for and great taste in music. The top skills for Music Supervisors include organizational, communication, and administrative skills.

Music Supervisors do need to have a deep and broad knowledge of music across many genres, especially the history of music, to consistently provide the best-suited music for each show and scene they are working on. That means finding the right music for the scene, not necessarily the favorite music of the Supervisor.

Knowing the roots of a wide variety of musical styles is crucial, and having a knack for finding just the right music is key. Different kinds of media use music differently, so the Music Supervisor must know what is required and then go out and find it. The tastes of the Director or Producer may come into play, but ultimately the Music Supervisor must do their own musical research and find the right music that fits the project’s budget and is available for licensing.

Knowledge of legal aspects of music is super important, as are deal-making and negotiation skills. Music Supervisors must be familiar with the various statutes affecting music licensing and clearances, and be very careful not to make mistakes, which could be costly or lead to lawsuits if clearances and contracts are not handled carefully.

Having good networking skills is a must, as most opportunities arrive by word of mouth. Students can volunteer to work at conferences such as for the Guild of Music Supervisors, which also offers educational and professional resources for anyone looking to break into the field.

While it’s helpful to have musical skills and knowledge such as reading, writing, and performing, it’s more important to have a broad knowledge and familiarity with musical styles, artists, production, and music business topics. Being a good communicator and understanding all the legal aspects of how music is bought, sold, licensed, and protected as intellectual property is crucial; having a legal background could also be helpful.

Understanding how the film and TV industries work and broad knowledge of films and shows will be an asset to anyone seeking to become a Music Supervisor. Having great connections and the ability to see a project through to the end are also important qualities that contribute to the likelihood of success. Finally, knowledge of the technology used in recording and syncing music to video could be very helpful to Music Supervisors in training.

Education & Training

There is no set educational or career path to become a Music Supervisor. Educational backgrounds range from Bachelor of Fine Arts in music to business degrees to no higher education at all. Since there are no degree programs in music supervision, aspiring Music Supervisors will have to find their own educational route to learning what they need to know.

Some colleges and universities offer courses in music supervision. For example, NYU Steinhardt’s Music Business program offers a course titled Strategic Music and Branding, while Berklee College of Music offers an online professional certificate in music supervision, open to anyone, comprised of five courses for a total of 15 credits. Berklee’s courses cover most aspects of music supervision and offer strategies for recognizing and leveraging professional opportunities.

Look for college majors related to the film or music industries and seek out internships that provide on-the-ground experience. It’s important to study music business and trends and to develop strategies as you learn about the critical areas of the industry. This includes best practices in music publishing, licensing, marketing, promotion, and understanding current issues facing musicians, entrepreneurs, Managers, Film Directors, and other music and entertainment professionals.

In the end, Music Supervisors are responsible for combining music and visual media, with attention to all the details involved with that. They need to be super organized with their time, know how to write a proper email, and be able to plan their work independently. These are learnable skills for anyone. What’s needed beyond the basic music knowledge is organizational ability, administrative skills, and clear communications. Learning to use spreadsheets and other administrative software and being a good problem-solver is as important as the musical knowledge you bring to the job.

Music Supervisors need to meet the needs of the Directors and Producers as well as the musicians, Composers, Songwriters, and their management and labels. This means bridging a significant gap between the two sides, while also bridging the gap between the creative and business sides. It’s an increasingly important role in the music and media entertainment industries.

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