ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses key considerations that pertain to the use of original music in a project, be it instrumental music or songs. There may be any number of reasons why project owners prefer original music to existing music, and pros and cons should be weighed up carefully. There are key benefits to commissioning original media music, including potential for collaborative creativity and the possibility of arriving at unique scoring solutions. Original film musicals used to be hugely popular in the US and, by extension, Europe and other markets. Song-and-dance numbers with catchy songs are central to plot development in Bollywood films and audiences expect songs as part of a film. The chapter describes typical cost factors and explains what may drive up or keep down expenditure on original music. Great media music costs money to compose and produce. The music contractor is in charge of sourcing all the musicians and singers required for the scoring sessions.
