Music in Movies

Linking a music artist and a film can be beneficial for both, joint promotion can be a powerful marketing tool. It also expands the audience for both the artist and film as those who are fans of one are encouraged to be a fan of the other. It also expands the artist’s media platform with extra attention from movie fans and press which raises their profile and allows the audience to see a different side of the artist and can create a different image or even a more respected image. Combining an established artist and successful film increases sales from various avenues.

In the 1900’s the first movie soundtracks were made, they consisted mainly of simple piano scores. By 1915 existing music scores were being used to accompany films meaning audiences recognised the soundtracks and the films became more appealing. Between 1930-50’s movie musicals were beginning to grow, for example Gene Kelly- 'Singing in the Rain'. Later in 1958, Elvis Presley appeared in the film 'Love me Tender'. Thousands of Elvis fans would queue eagerly to see their hero on the big screen and film goers would have been introduced to this new musical star.

Then soon enough by the 1960’s soundtrack sales became popular with albums such as Westside Story, Hard Day’s Night, Yellow Submarine, Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, The Graduate, etc. Record sales benefited both the movie and artists. 

In the late 1960’s 'Early Rider' was released, this was the first collection of rock songs which continued to influence movie soundtracks with the likes of Hendrix and The Bryds. It seemed that films were bringing soundtracks back into the charts, helping sales for the movies and artist which expanded the audience of both. 

By the 1970s-80’s orchestral soundtracks were becoming popular with the likes of Jaws, Star Wars, ET, The Godfather etc, and more recently with the Harry Potter movies, all becoming well known and easily associated with the films. 

Rock n’ Roll and Soul songs were used for movie soundtracks to appeal to a mass audience, for example, the Bridgette Jones diary films had very successful accompanying albums. An important part of a movie soundtrack is that if the movie or soundtrack wins an award, it increases the artists profile and respect.There have been many recent successful soundtracks for movies, many of which have won awards and boosted the artist’s profile, for example, the 2010 film Avatar, where Leona Lewis performed the theme 'I See You', the film won a Grammy at the 2011 awards and 'I See You' reached the US and Irish charts. Both these successes helped the film and artist. 

In 2012 the 23^rd James Bond film was released; Skyfall. James Bond already has a huge established international fan base. By Adele being selected to perform the soundtrack theme helped her greatly to become a more established and well respected artist, but also helped the James Bond films become more modern as Adele was a current chart topper, so even after 23 top films they are still able to create hype and a large and younger audience.