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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Runaway Film Scoring Leaves Some Musicians Behind

    They say that if you notice a film’s score, it’s not doing its job. Of course, anyone can hum the theme to “Jaws.” But for the most part, scores exist in the background, making the action seem more intense, the love scenes more romantic and the drama more dramatic.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Jun 4, 2015 • 1 min read

    They say that if you notice a film’s score, it’s not doing its job. Of course, anyone can hum the theme to “Jaws.” But for the most part, scores exist in the background, making the action seem more intense, the love scenes more romantic and the drama more dramatic. The composers and musicians who create those scores are even more behind the scenes. But they’ve been making more noise these days because their jobs are being shipped overseas. According to one report, recording session wages have dropped nearly 68% in the last 15 years. What does it mean for the future of the scoring business?

    The full episode

    4 of 4
    Tracking the Red Cross’ Haiti Funds, Sheryl Sandberg on Grief, and Brian Wilson
    1. 0:00Tracking the Red Cross’ $500 Million in Haiti Relief
    2. 10:44Web Roundup: Sheryl Sandberg on Grief and More
    3. 23:08'Love & Mercy' Tells Brian Wilson’s Story
    4. 39:59Runaway Film Scoring Leaves Some Musicians BehindYou’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jon Burlingame

      professor of film and TV scoring at USC’s Thornton School of Music.

      News

    The full episode

    4 of 4
    Tracking the Red Cross’ Haiti Funds, Sheryl Sandberg on Grief, and Brian Wilson
    1. 0:00Tracking the Red Cross’ $500 Million in Haiti Relief
    2. 10:44Web Roundup: Sheryl Sandberg on Grief and More
    3. 23:08'Love & Mercy' Tells Brian Wilson’s Story
    4. 39:59Runaway Film Scoring Leaves Some Musicians BehindYou’re reading this
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand