FAQs

What is a music supervisor, exactly?

A music supervisor is the person who helps to shape your story through music and sound. We work closely with directors, editors, producers and showrunners to find the right songs - or composers who can complete a score - that serves to carry emotion, set tone and ground a scene in a specific time, place, cultural context or feeling.

Our job is part creative, part logistical and fully rooted within the storytelling process. This means that we not only work with creative teams to select music that fits a moment - we also handle the clearance side, making certain that the tracks you fall in love with are cleared for use and fall as close as possible within your budget. For an extensive overview of what a music supervisor's responsibilities are, check out these guidelines from the Guild of Music Supervisors.

Good music supervision isn't just about taste, it's about intention. What does the story need so that it feels honest, resonant and real? What has to happen musically so that everything happening in that moment feels like an experience? Sometimes this means diving into historical research in order to get the tonality right; other times it means shining a spotlight on emerging artists that have exactly what it takes to bring everyone into the story. At all times, it means making music choices that matter.

When should I bring on a music supervisor?

The earlier, the better. A music supervisor can be incredibly helpful during pre-production -especially when it comes to budgeting, planning for specific music moments or flagging potential rights issues. Waiting until post-production to address these types of concerns can limit your options or lead to expensive surprise hits to the bottom line. Bringing someone in early allows for greater creative flexibility, a smoother licensing process and better alignment with your overall vision.

How much does this particular song cost? Can't you just give me a rough number?

There's no real way for a music supervisor to give you an answer to that question relative to any song. There are numerous factors involved in getting an estimate for use of a track, including but not limited to how many versions of a song there are, how many songwriters and publishers are involved, how many forms of media the song needs to be licensed for, where are those forms of media going to live, how long does it need to be licensed for, etc.

A good rule of thumb: The more well-known the song is, the more expensive it will be no matter where you intend to use it.

Do I still need a music supervisor if I already know which songs I want?

You sure do, especially if you want to use those songs legally and somewhat affordably. Knowing what you want is a great start, but music clearance is a very complex process. Music supervisors handle clearing the rights to use music, which requires outreach to a network of professionals, negotiation with rights holders and legal coordination; at the same time that this is happening, they generally search for creative alternatives if a particular track is out of reach financially or logistically and do so with the production calendar in mind.

What is music clearance and why does it matter?

Music clearance is the process of getting legal permission to use a piece of music for a production or event. This involves negotiating with rights holders, securing written agreements, and navigating lots and lots of messages/phone calls. Without proper clearance, your project could be pulled from distribution or face legal action, so it's not a process that you want to skip or try to do yourself.

What's the difference between a music supervisor and a composer?

Composers create original music tailored to your project; this is called a score. A music supervisor primarily works with existing songs to help shape the overall sound of the production, and can work closely with the composer, independent music artists or music production houses to create the best outcome. Both roles often work closely together, but serve two very different functions. Think of the composer as crafting original emotional cues and the music supervisor as curating the entire sound world with pre-existing tracks and licensed music that you might already be familiar with, in addition to original music.

Can a music supervisor help me find songs from underrepresented artists or musicians from specific cultural backgrounds?

Absolutely - and this is a point of pride for me in the work that I choose to do. A major aspect of telling a good story is using music, cultural context, time and place with care, accuracy and consideration. A good supervisor doesn't just pull from obvious playlists. They dig deep, take the time to do the research with regard to the artists, music culture around them and the communities that cherish them. It's an honor to make musical choices that are authentic, reverential and aligned with the story that a creator is trying to tell.

What if I'm working with a limited budget? Can I still afford music supervision?

Yes, but the choice to move forward depends entirely upon the proposed scope of work and that particular music supervisor's own professional discretion. A great music supervisor can help you to prioritize the budget that you have and to be honest about what you can afford for the budget that's available. It is possible to stretch a music budget without compromising the story, but I would caution any creator to be sure that there is a solid music licensing budget and a separate budget to cover a music supervisor's fees in place before engaging them in any way; this is not a professional courtesy, it is a matter of respect for their expertise and time.

Do I need a music supervisor for a short film or web series?

It depends upon your goals. If you plan to submit your project to festivals, pitch it to distributors or use recognizable music in your project, I'd recommend it, even if you're just engaging them for a general consultation.

Do you have a rate card?

All of the work that I do is based around the scope of work specific to your individual project. If you'd like to schedule a consulting call, please feel free to share details about your project and reach out via hello@jocelynmichellebrown.com.

I'm a musician. Can I send you tracks?

No, and here's why: All music supervisors receive more e-mails full of pitched music in the course of one day than we could ever check, answer or even listen to. The best way to get the attention of a music supervisor is to work with a third-party sync agent, publisher or record label who has the right to represent and pitch your music.

Many of the e-mails that we receive directly from musicians come to us with no artist name, no song title, no album title, no contact information, just 'Untitled_1.mp3." There's no way for us to find you or distinguish your tracks from the others when these details aren't taken care of, and we simply do not have time to try to figure it out or to respond to multiple emails asking if we have listened to what you sent. We're on deadline - and a certified way to ensure that we won't listen to anything is to send a cold e-mail multiple times.

Find someone to pitch your work who is as passionate about your music as you are. That is the best way to reach a music supervisor. That will always be the best way.

Can I "pick your brain" about something that I'm working on?

Discovery calls are reserved for potential clients who have projects that they have committed to and subsequently who might like to retain my services. If this does not describe you and you still want to chat, I'm happy to talk if you're willing to cover the required consultancy fee for a half-hour call! E-mail hello@jocelynmichellebrown.com to inquire and potentially schedule a time.

I'd like to become a music supervisor. How do I do it?

Every person who enters the field does so differently. Some go to school to study under a Music Business track, others of us learn on the job. You can start by learning more about the trade via this Los Angeles Times article; it does a great job of outlining the different paths you can take within music supervision. You can also visit the Guild of Music Supervisors website, which is full of resources. 

Lastly, if you'd like to receive a copy of a list of books that have helped me along my path and register for my upcoming newsletter, feel free to send an e-mail to readers@jocelynmichellebrown.com. These are all books that helped me to connect the dots between creativity and business as I moved through my working life.