Television has taken on an entirely new look and feel, even in the
past decade. What was once an industry based on three major networks
with very limited programs in the 1950′s has erupted into many major
networks and thousands of cable channels available throughout the world
in every imaginable language. Television has truly become a
three-dimensional experience for producers, directors, project
coordinators and other professionals in the industry, not to mention a
multi-dimensional experience for viewers. With a variety of genres and
styles of programming available, from news programs and specials to
different types and lengths of commercials, sit-coms, dramas, reality
programs, game shows and countless others, being someone involved in
television production is both wrought with opportunity and teeming with
challenges.
Finding inexpensive background music and production music for television programs can be much more difficult than finding it for other types of media projects because the medium is so diversified and so societally pervasive. As a director or producer of television programs looking for ear-catching television music for your show, you have to be very cognizant of not only your target audience, but also what you are up against in your allotted time slot. Sometimes whether a show succeeds or fails has nothing to do with its quality. Success in television programming has more to do with what you are up against and the time and day your program airs. If you are producing a talk show, for example, you might be on at the same time as more than five or ten other talk shows. Or your program might conversely be when no other talk shows are on television, but at a time when typically people are more likely to watch news programs, Sit-coms or other types of programming.
Still, choosing the right television music can certainly help you
make the most out of your particular project. Again, because of the
diverse nature of television, there are many different types of
production music and background music to choose from. There is music for
commercials, music for dramas, music for news programs and specials,
music for sit-coms and many others. As a producer of a television show,
you probably also will have to consider how your music will blend in
with the music of commercials that might air during your broadcast.
Because the line between commercials and programming has been blurred,
starting in the 1960′s commercials have become an integral part of all
television shows, sometimes not only on network television but also on
cable television. Before the mid-1960′s, commercials used to have to be
signaled in all television programs by an announcement that they would
begin. Similarly, announcers were responsible for signaling the return
of the regular program. Now, there is not always any clear sign where
the show ends and the commercial begins or vice versa. It’s all about
the timing.
Because Copyright Law has become stricter to account for the
proliferation of diverse recorded music, finding and affording
production music and background music for television programming has
been further complicated. Before the 1980s, music in commercials and
even on many television programs was limited to jingles and transitional
music, most of which was instrumental or with very brief and simple
vocals. Occasionally lyrics to popular music would be changed to fit a
particular product or the theme for a show, a phenomenon that would not
work easily or cheaply under today’s copyright standards, and didn’t
come inexpensively then either. Still, while some pop and rock songs
were re-recorded for television programs and commercials, the cost of
licensing original recordings was very daunting until the late 1980s
when it became more doable.
Today commercials use many popular songs as background music and production music, and many programs, particularly those geared towards young people use popular music regularly in an effort to promote burgeoning music groups. Television has become such a cultural phenomenon and a showcase for music that many shows, including “Dawson’s Creek” and “The O.C.” have even gone on to put out music compilations based on music heard in episodes of the show throughout specific seasons. Previously, songs were often used without artist consent, but thanks to stricter Copyright Law this is no longer a possibility. Still, most artists are willing to accept often high payment for use of their songs in popular television programs and enjoy the exposure they get as a result to very specific markets made up of people that will buy music they make in the future.
Finding inexpensive background music and production music for television programs can be much more difficult than finding it for other types of media projects because the medium is so diversified and so societally pervasive. As a director or producer of television programs looking for ear-catching television music for your show, you have to be very cognizant of not only your target audience, but also what you are up against in your allotted time slot. Sometimes whether a show succeeds or fails has nothing to do with its quality. Success in television programming has more to do with what you are up against and the time and day your program airs. If you are producing a talk show, for example, you might be on at the same time as more than five or ten other talk shows. Or your program might conversely be when no other talk shows are on television, but at a time when typically people are more likely to watch news programs, Sit-coms or other types of programming.


Today commercials use many popular songs as background music and production music, and many programs, particularly those geared towards young people use popular music regularly in an effort to promote burgeoning music groups. Television has become such a cultural phenomenon and a showcase for music that many shows, including “Dawson’s Creek” and “The O.C.” have even gone on to put out music compilations based on music heard in episodes of the show throughout specific seasons. Previously, songs were often used without artist consent, but thanks to stricter Copyright Law this is no longer a possibility. Still, most artists are willing to accept often high payment for use of their songs in popular television programs and enjoy the exposure they get as a result to very specific markets made up of people that will buy music they make in the future.