Research - The Smart Way

Are you doing your research when it comes to what music is being used in trailers?

This is a really important aspect of being a composer for trailers (and any commercial venture for that matter).

It is the only way to answer the question, “Is the music you are producing likely to be used and therefore likely to earn you money?”

I have a few tips on how to do your trailer music research and just as a warning, they all involve time and effort.

Watch trailers on YouTube
Check to see what other trailer music producers/libraries are landing
Listen to the latest production music releases.

YouTube trailers

This kind of speaks for itself. By watching recent trailers on youtube you will start to gain a clear understanding of what type of music is trending and also how it is being used.

For example, lately, the use of ticking is still very common. However, it is often not a clock. The ticking is being affected to sound slightly different. Not so much that it sounds like a different sound but just enough to make it feel fresh.

What is landing

This is the next logical step. Researching what your fellow composers are landing and with what type of music.

Although this is basically the same thing as the last step it starts to give you some slightly more pertinent information - it tells you what type of music the trailer music libraries and trailer houses often use.

You will start to see that certain libraries and trailer houses are known for horror, others for Marvel, and others for family movies.

This then puts you in good stead for pitching your music to the right people.

Latest Releases

This is a bit of a secret that I was only recently shown by a fellow composer. It is a site that showcases all of the production music libraries and all of their releases…even the industry-only releases!

It is called NewBeatBox.com and it is an amazing resource, especially when combined with YouTube and placement research.

Cool Trailers This Month

Hypnotic is an excellent example of the continuing popularity of ticking/clicking to maintain tension and pace throughout. I particularly like the use of rhythmic sound design at 1.36.

Dune: Part Two utilises two things that I really like; a percussive signature sound and beautiful cinematic textures.

Oppenheimer. This is one of my favourite trailers this month. I love the mix of slow-burn trailer music with some really interesting sub-heavy sound design.

Showing Up. The music in this trailer makes me happy. It’s so lovely to hear different-sounding electronic music in a trailer and this one marries orchestral and electronic elements beautifully.

This Moana teaser trailer jumps straight into driving string patterns filled with drama. Got me very excited to see this with my kids!

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. I just LOVE hearing trailerisations of such iconic film scores (especially when mixed with a 90s pop song)

This Month’s Brief

Aquatic Adventure is aimed at family adventure movies based around the sea; Moana, The Little Mermaid, Ruby Gillman, Pirates of The Caribbean 6, etc.

I want to hear you embrace the full orchestra driven by fast string patterns and explosive percussion. This needs to feel absolutely massive - you are representing the underwater worlds in all their colourful glory.

Your track needs to be filled with “ear candy” for the editors; well-placed stopdowns, act 4 and possibly 5 with attention given to small details within each act.

I recommend reading my interview with Chris Davey to help get to grips with the type of composition and production I am looking for.

⬇ May MONTHLY BRIEF 2023 101 KB

See you in next month’s issue of Going Platinum.

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