Category Archives: Getting the best score

Tips and tricks from a composer who has scored hundreds of promos, commercials, and themes.

“I coulda done that!”

John Hunter is one of my favorite guys / composer / business owners. I think of him kind of like a mentor. He shared a great thought about composing with me that goes something like this: When you see a new commercial on tv and the music is really simple, maybe just drums, guitar and … Continue reading

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Button Endings

Button Endings

Remember that one of your goals with a promo is to enlarge the perceived value of the show, and music is the best way to send that subconscious message to your viewers. The way you end the promo is very important; it may be the only thing the viewer remembers about it! Continue reading

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“We want it Contemporary/Hip/Cool”

We want it Contemporary/Hip/Cool What does that mean?  When you think about it, there are a helluva lot of different styles of music that different people would consider hip, or cool, or whatever.  That’s why I actually love it when I’m told to, “just make it hip.” Trust the composer You hire a composer either … Continue reading

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Loops Suck!

Loops Suck! Damn straight they do.  About 95% of the crap you hear on TV is made of nothing more than loops.  Unoriginal, the same as everything else on air, and poorly produced. What’s a loop? It’s a prerecorded piece of music, usually of just one or a few instruments, designed to be put together … Continue reading

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