Our recent survey, ‘Is Music Becoming Clip Art On TV Shows?’ sheds light on how frequently those in the television industry encounter what they perceive as inappropriate music choices in these mediums. The findings offer a unique perspective on the common hurdles and considerations audio professionals face in their work.

The survey's results reveal a divided landscape among those who responded: nearly half (48%) report encountering inappropriate music on TV "Very Often" or "Occasionally." This significant portion perhaps underscores the subjective and often complex nature of music selection and its alignment with visual content. On the flip side, a smaller yet notable segment (11%) rarely finds music choices to be out of place, highlighting a diversity of experience and opinion within the industry itself.

These insights prompt a reflection on the multifaceted role of music in TV and film, emphasising the following points:

1. The Complexity of 'Appropriateness'

Music's impact on a scene or project cannot be overstated, with its ability to evoke emotions, set the tone, and even alter the audience's perception of the visual content. However, what constitutes 'appropriate' music can vary widely among individuals, influenced by personal tastes, cultural backgrounds, and even the context in which they're experiencing the content. This variability underscores the importance of a deliberate, thoughtful approach in music selection, where the goal is not just to match the creator's vision but also to consider the potential reception by a diverse audience. It's about finding a balance where the music enhances the narrative without overshadowing it, respecting the subjective experience of each listener while achieving the intended emotional and thematic goals.

2. Audience vs. Creator Perspective

The disparity between creator intent and audience reception is a crucial consideration for audio professionals. While creators often have a clear vision of what they want to achieve with their music choices, audiences might interpret these selections differently based on their own experiences and expectations. This gap highlights the need for audio professionals to cultivate a dual perspective: one that respects the creative vision and another that anticipates and understands the audience's reception. Techniques such as audience testing, seeking feedback from diverse listeners, and studying successful musical applications in similar contexts can help bridge this divide, ensuring that the music serves its intended purpose effectively.

3. The Importance of Contextual Sensitivity

Effective music selection goes beyond matching a track with a scene's aesthetic; it involves a deep understanding of the scene's narrative context, emotional undertones, and pacing. The survey's findings on the challenges of achieving alignment in these areas spotlight the meticulous attention to detail required in the mixing process. Music that clashes with the narrative context or distracts from the emotional tone can significantly detract from the viewer's experience, while well-aligned music can elevate the storytelling. This requires a keen sensitivity to the subtleties of both the music and the narrative, a skill that develops over time and through experience. It also suggests a more collaborative approach to music selection, where composers, directors, and sound designers work closely to ensure that music contributes positively to the narrative coherence and emotional depth of the project.

4. Collaboration and Communication

The diverse opinions on what is considered 'appropriate' music underscore the necessity of robust collaboration and communication within production teams. Navigating these differing viewpoints demands an environment where ideas can be shared openly, and decisions are made collaboratively. Central to this process is a clear understanding of the project's vision and objectives, which can serve as a guiding principle for music selection. Regular discussions, feedback sessions, and even workshops can facilitate a more integrated approach, ensuring that music choices are informed by a comprehensive understanding of the narrative needs, emotional goals, and creative direction of the project.

Expanding the narrative in this manner offers a richer, more insightful exploration of the complexities involved in music selection for audio professionals, providing both a conceptual framework and practical strategies for navigating these challenges.

5. The Importance Of Dialogue In A Mix

Perhaps even more pertinent than all of the above is the integration of music and dialogue. Several people commented on the article highlighting the importance of clear, intelligible dialogue.

Glenn made a good point about dynamic range in relation to this;

“Say what you will about older film and TV - hearing what people were saying was critical, so the dynamic range (as well as the technical limitations) was constrained enough to achieve it properly - and why so many new shows and films don't get a chance to renew or get a sequel - the audio was so botched no-one wanted to go through that again, and this is repeated in big budgets as well as small budgets.”

Delven Hamric made a suggestion about giving end users control over dialogue;

“How about just adding a dialogue up button to the TV? With all the new AI music rebalance programs, it would be simple to just push the dialogue up a few dB! Since most new TVs are just big tablets, a simple software update could fix the problem. The big bonus, it works at playback and nothing needs to be changed at the source! Just a thought…”

Key Royster also had something to say about the role of dialogue;

“Better mixers needed in music vs dialogue. Some people that mix don’t pay enough attention to the basic phonetic elements needed to be able to recognise words.”

Mattia Nicoletti made a good point about the importance of educating clients about music choices;

“The problem I experience is that clients must be educated in choosing the right music for their contents. And it depends on many factors, first of all the objective and the target of their content. There is ton of sounding good music, but good does not mean right.”

Final Thoughts

So there you have it, the use of inappropriate music is a big issue in TV mixes, and it seems that this comes down to not only the choice of music, but the balance of this with dialogue. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.